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

Younkins, 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 Younkins surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Younkins in America

Younkins is the 44730th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Younkins surname appeared 480 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 Younkins.

We can also compare 2010 data for Younkins 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 Younkins

The surname Younkins is of Dutch or German origin, and its roots can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Originating from the Low Countries (comprising modern-day Netherlands and Belgium) or Germany, it is a patronymic surname derived from the diminutive form of the given name Janke or Johan, which itself is a derivative of Johannes (John in English), meaning "God is gracious." The diminutive form indicates "little John" or "young John," hence the evolution into Younkins.

The name Younkins has evolved through various spellings over the centuries. Early forms might include Jankens, Jonkens, or similar spellings depending on regional dialects and phonetic transcription. Linguistic shifts and migrations influenced the surname's transformation. In the Netherlands, there are records of variations such as Jonkheer, a title often used among the nobility, indicating its elevated status in certain areas.

Historical mentions of the Younkins surname are somewhat scarce in grand record collections like the Domesday Book, primarily because the book focuses on English holdings post-Norman Conquest. However, the Younkins name appears in other local records, church registers, and legal documents in regions heavily populated by Dutch and German immigrants.

One of the earliest recorded instances of a variant of the Younkins name is found in 15th-century records from what is now the Netherlands and the Rhineland area of Germany. A notable person, Jan Jankens, documented in 1475, was a known merchant in the city of Utrecht. His business dealings provide one of the earliest verifiable footprints of the Younkins lineage.

In the 17th century, as European populations migrated to the New World, individuals with the Younkins surname began appearing in colonial America. One such individual was Hans Younkins, who arrived in Pennsylvania in the early 1700s. The colonial records of York County in Pennsylvania note Hans Younkins as a landowner and a contributor to the burgeoning community.

The Younkins surname is further highlighted in the annals of American Civil War history. Private Frederick Younkins born in 1839, served with distinction in the Union Army. His valiant efforts and subsequent pension records provide invaluable insight into the Younkins family's participation in pivotal historical events.

Another noted figure is Clara Younkins, born in 1854, one of the early women to attend and graduate from medical school in the United States. Her contributions to medicine and her pioneering spirit paved the way for future female doctors.

Thomas B. Younkins, born in 1883, played a significant role in academia, serving as a respected professor of European history. His scholarly work and publications on medieval European trade routes contributed significantly to historical research.

The surname Younkins has an enduring legacy, embedded in the historical narrative of West Europe and North America. Its evolution from a diminutive patronymic form to a recognizable surname highlights the interplay between linguistic development and migratory patterns. The contributions of notable Younkins individuals have enriched various fields, from commerce and warfare to medicine and academia, leaving a lasting mark on history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Younkins

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

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

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

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