2000
#22,999
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,038
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.38
Rare Last name
Younes
A surname of Arabic origin meaning "son of Jonah."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 2,071 Americans carry the last name Younes. That puts it at #15,581 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.60 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 165,502 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Younes surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Younes with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
2.1K
1 in 165,502
Census rank
#15,581
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.8K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,806 bearers of the surname Younes in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.60 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 15581st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Younes, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (4.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Younes
Among Census respondents with the surname Younes, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (4.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Younes bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Younes surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White87.8% · 1,586
- Hispanic or Latino5.0% · 91
- Two or more races4.2% · 76
- Black or African American1.6% · 28
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.3% · 24
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.1% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Younes
Younes appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#20,157
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,324
+286 bearers (+27.6%)
Per 100,000 0.45
Rank movement Up 2,842 places
2020
#15,581
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,806
+482 bearers (+36.4%)
Per 100,000 0.60
Rank movement Up 4,576 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #22,999 | 1,038 | 0.38 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #20,157 | 1,324 | 0.45 | +286 bearers (+27.6%) | Up 2,842 places |
| 2020 | #15,581 | 1,806 | 0.60 | +482 bearers (+36.4%) | Up 4,576 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Younes surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #20,157 | #15,581 | 22.7% |
| Count | 1,324 | 1,806 | 36.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.45 | 0.60 | 34.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Younes bearers went from 1,324 to 1,806 (+36.4% change). The surname moved up 4,576 positions in the national ranking, going from #20,157 to #15,581.
FAQ
Younes surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Younes?
Name Census estimates that about 2,071 living Americans carry the surname Younes. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 165,502 residents.
How common is Younes?
Younes ranks #15,581 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.60 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 1,806 people with the surname Younes. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (2,071), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.6 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.60 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Younes.
Has Younes become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Younes went from 1,324 recorded bearers to 1,806. That is an increase of 482 (+36.4%). In the national ranking it rose from #20,157 to #15,581.
What does the Census say about the background of Younes?
Among Census respondents with the surname Younes, the largest self-reported group is White at 87.8%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (5.0%) and Two or More Races (4.2%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Younes in the 2020 Census, accounting for 87.8% (1,586 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Younes appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (87.8%), Hispanic (5.0%), Two or More Races (4.2%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Younes (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Younes mean?
A surname of Arabic origin meaning "son of Jonah." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Younes (0.60 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Younes?
You can see how many people are called Younes on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.