Find out how popular the last name Youm is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Youm.

Youm, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Youm surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Youm in America

Youm is the 82317th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Youm surname appeared 229 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Youm.

We can also compare 2010 data for Youm to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Youm

The surname Youm traces its origins to the Korean peninsula. It is a transliteration of the Korean surname often rendered as Yum or Yeom. The character 염 (Yeom) designated the name in the Korean language and is of ancient origin, appearing in historical records and genealogies tracing back to the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). The name is derived from Chinese, combining the characters 辛 (Xin), which means "bitter" or "glad," and 廉 (Lian), which means "廉潔" or integrity and honesty.

Old records from Korean history such as the "Goryeosa" (History of Goryeo) and "Joseon Wangjo Sillok" (Annals of the Joseon Dynasty) mention individuals with the name Yeom. These documents serve as crucial historical references that mention the lineage and deeds of people carrying this surname. For instance, the Goryeosa records the life of Yeom Je-sin, a notable scholar and government official. Born in 1304, Yeom Je-sin was an influential figure in Goryeo, contributing to various state affairs and policies until his death in 1382.

Another significant figure is Yeom Heung-seop, a military leader active in the late Goryeo period during the 14th century. His substantial role in defending the peninsula against foreign invasions is well-documented. Yeom Heung-seop’s strategies and leadership have been highlighted in various manuscripts and war accounts of the era.

The Joseon Dynasty also saw notable figures such as Yeom Seung-hyeon, who served as a royal physician. Born in 1481, Yeom Seung-hyeon was respected for advancing traditional Korean medicine until his passing in 1540. His contributions are recorded in the "Dongui Bogam," a comprehensive medical text from the Joseon period.

Yeom Eung-taek, a prominent Confucian scholar from the 17th century, further solidified the name’s association with education and intellectual pursuits. Born in 1643, Yeom Eung-taek contributed to Confucian studies until his death in 1703, and his works are part of the Korean Confucian canon.

In more recent centuries, Yeom Sang-seop emerged as a prominent novelist during the early 20th century. Born in 1897, Sang-seop’s literary works provide a critical lens on Korean society during the Japanese occupation. He passed away in 1963, but his writings remain influential in contemporary Korean literature.

The surname Youm or Yeom appears in various place names in Korea, denoting areas historically inhabited by clans or families bearing the name. The village of Yeomchon in South Korea is a notable example. Though the spelling variations may differ, such as Yum or Yom, the historical and cultural significance of the surname remains consistent through centuries of Korean history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Youm

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Youm.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Youm was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Youm has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Youm was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Youm, please contact us.

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