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

Younker, 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 Younker surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Younker in America

Younker is the 14755th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Younker surname appeared 2,013 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 Younker.

We can also compare 2010 data for Younker 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 Younker

The surname Younker is of Germanic origin, derived from the Middle Low German word "junker," which means "young lord" or "young nobleman." This name was initially used to refer to the younger sons of noblemen or knights who had not yet inherited titles or lands.

The earliest recorded instances of the Younker surname can be traced back to the 14th century in various regions of Germany and the Netherlands. One notable early reference is found in the Codex Diplomaticus Neerlandicus, a collection of historical documents from the Netherlands, where the name "Younker" appears in records dating back to the late 1300s.

In the 15th century, the Younker surname began to spread beyond its original regions, with families bearing this name appearing in areas such as the Rhineland and the Duchy of Brabant. During this period, the name was often associated with minor nobility or wealthy landowners.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Younker was Hendrick Younker, a merchant and landowner who lived in the city of Bruges in the late 15th century. Another notable figure was Johann Younker, a German Lutheran theologian and author who lived from 1550 to 1617.

As the centuries passed, the Younker surname continued to be found across various parts of Europe, particularly in regions with strong Germanic influences. In the 17th century, the name appeared in records from the Netherlands, such as the baptismal records of the Reformed Church in Amsterdam, where several individuals with the Younker surname were recorded.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Younker surname began to spread to other parts of the world through emigration. One notable individual from this period was Friedrich Younker, a German-born settler who arrived in the United States in the early 19th century and became a prominent farmer and landowner in Pennsylvania.

Another significant figure was Hans Younker, a Dutch-born explorer and surveyor who played a crucial role in mapping and surveying the interior regions of South Africa in the late 19th century. His expeditions and contributions to cartography helped shape the understanding of the region's geography.

While the Younker surname has its roots in Germany and the Netherlands, it has since been carried to various parts of the world by families and individuals seeking new opportunities or fleeing conflict and persecution. Today, the name can be found in numerous countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and parts of Europe, reflecting the diverse and far-reaching history of this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Younker

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

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

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

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