Younes last name popularity, history, and meaning

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

Meaning of Younes

A surname of Arabic origin meaning "son of Jonah."

Younes, 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 Younes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Younes in America

Younes is the 20157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Younes surname appeared 1,324 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 Younes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Younes 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.

2010 2000 Change (%)
Rank 20157 22999 -13.17%
Count 1,324 1,038 24.22%
Proportion per 100k 0.45 0.38 16.87%

The history of the last name Younes

The surname Younes has its origins in the Middle East, particularly within Arabic-speaking countries, with historical connections to regions such as Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria. The name Younes is derived from the Arabic given name Yunus, which corresponds to the biblical name Jonah, meaning "dove." The time period of the origination cannot be precisely pinpointed, but its use can be traced back to ancient times, reflecting the Islamic and Christian traditions prevalent in the Middle Eastern regions.

The name Younes appears in various historical records and manuscripts dating back to the medieval period. For instance, it has been found in Islamic historical texts and registers, where it appeared in various forms such as ibn Younes, indicating "son of Younes," which was a common naming convention in Arabic culture. Additionally, some early Ottoman records mention the surname, showcasing its presence across different ruling periods and empires in the Middle East.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Younes is that of the medieval astronomer Ibn Yunus, born in 950 and died in 1009, who made significant contributions to the field of astronomy in the Islamic Golden Age. Another notable historical figure is Younes al-Ayadi, an influential Berber leader in North Africa during the 13th century, who played a role in the local resistance against foreign invasions.

The name Younes also appears in Mediterranean European regions due to migrations and cultural exchanges, such as in Sicily where Arabo-Norman influences were prominent. Records from the 14th century indicate the name in varying forms like Iones and Ionis, reflecting its adaptation to different languages and local dialects.

In modern historical references, Younes Bendjima, born in 1993, is a well-known model of Algerian descent, although primarily recognized in the fashion industry of the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Meanwhile, Younes Tazi, a prominent Moroccan writer and political figure from the early 20th century, contributed to the nationalist movements in Morocco and laid groundwork for literary and political advancements.

Another significant historical figure is Younes Hamedan, a 19th-century Palestinian scholar and poet, whose works reflect the social and cultural milieu of his era, contributing to the Arabic literature of his time. Finally, Younes Asrar, an influential 16th-century Andalusian merchant, facilitated trade across the Mediterranean and had an impact on the economic interchanges between the Islamic and Christian worlds during his time.

In summary, the surname Younes boasts a rich history that spans across various regions and centuries, resonating through significant contributions in the realms of science, literature, politics, and trade.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Younes

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

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 Younes was:

Race/Ethnicity Percentage Total Occurrences
Non-Hispanic White Only 88.44% 1,171
Non-Hispanic Black Only (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic Asian and Pacific Islander Only 2.19% 29
Non-Hispanic American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)
Non-Hispanic of Two or More Races 3.32% 44
Hispanic Origin 5.21% 69

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 Younes has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

2010 2000 Change (%)
White 88.44% 82.85% 6.53%
Black (S)% (S)% (S)%
Asian and Pacific Islander 2.19% 1.83% 17.91%
American Indian and Alaskan Native (S)% (S)% (S)%
Two or More Races 3.32% 9.92% -99.70%
Hispanic 5.21% 4.82% 7.78%

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

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

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"Younes last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com. Accessed on December 22, 2024. http://namecensus.com/last-names/younes-surname-popularity/.

"Younes last name popularity, history, and meaning". NameCensus.com, http://namecensus.com/last-names/younes-surname-popularity/. Accessed 22 December, 2024

Younes last name popularity, history, and meaning. NameCensus.com. Retrieved from http://namecensus.com/last-names/younes-surname-popularity/.

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