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

Younan, 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 Younan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Younan in America

Younan is the 17056th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Younan surname appeared 1,665 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Younan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Younan 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 Younan

The surname Younan has its origins in the Middle East, specifically within the Assyrian Christian communities of what is modern-day Iraq, Syria, and Turkey. Linguistic roots suggest that Younan is derived from the Assyrian or Syriac term for "Greek" (Yāwnānā in Aramaic), which historically indicated a person of Greek descent or association. This correlation arises from historical interactions and intermingling between the Greeks and the Assyrians during the periods of Hellenistic influence and subsequent Byzantine rule.

Historical references to the surname appear sporadically due to the tumultuous history of the region. Early written mentions can be traced back to ecclesiastical records and inscriptions in ancient churches, monasteries, and other Christian religious sites dating back to the late medieval period. Details from these records often highlight the prominent role of families with this surname in church leadership and community affairs.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this surname is Patriarch Younan of the Assyrian Church of the East, who served during the late 16th century. His correspondence and ecclesiastical contributions are noted in various church manuscripts. Another notable historical figure is Shams al-Din Younan, a 17th-century scholar and cleric who made significant contributions to the theological literature of the time.

In the 19th century, individuals with the surname Younan continued to emerge in notable roles. Joseph Younan, born in 1852 and died in 1912, was a prominent merchant and community leader who played a crucial role in supporting displaced Christians during the Ottoman Empire's declining years. His entrepreneurial endeavors and philanthropy are recorded in local histories.

The 20th century saw migration and diaspora spread the surname worldwide as Assyrian communities fled persecution. One prominent 20th-century figure is Mar Gewargis Sliwa Younan, born in 1893, who served as a bishop in the Assyrian Church of the East and was instrumental in the establishment of new Assyrian parishes in the diaspora.

Another significant figure is Bishop Mar Awa Royel Younan, born in 1975, who became the first American-born bishop of the Assyrian Church of the East. His leadership and contributions to the church's expansion in the Western Hemisphere highlight the surname's continued association with ecclesiastical prominence.

Throughout its history, the surname Younan has been associated with a blend of ecclesiastical leadership, scholarship, and community service. Its bearers have played significant roles in the preservation and continuation of Assyrian Christian heritage, both in the Middle East and in the Assyrian diaspora worldwide.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Younan

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

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 Younan 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 Younan 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 Younan was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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