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

Yow, 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 Yow surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yow in America

Yow is the 13091st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yow surname appeared 2,343 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 Yow.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yow 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 Yow

The surname Yow has its origins in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "yow," which was a term used to refer to a ewe, or a female sheep. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who worked as a shepherd or in a similar profession involving sheep.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is listed as "Yuwe." This document was a census-like record of landowners and their holdings in various counties across England. The spelling variations during this time period included "Yowe," "Yowye," and "Youwe."

The Yow surname has also been linked to various place names throughout England, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire and Yorkshire. For example, the village of Youlgrave in Derbyshire was historically known as "Yograve," which may have contributed to the development of the surname in that region.

Notable historical figures with the surname Yow include John Yow, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Norwich during the 15th century. Records indicate that he served as the city's mayor in 1451 and 1459.

In the 16th century, Thomas Yow (c. 1510-1585) was a prominent clergyman and scholar who served as the Master of Magdalen College School in Oxford. He was known for his contributions to the study of Greek and Latin literature.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, Captain William Yow (c. 1620-1677) was a skilled military commander who fought for the Parliamentarian forces against King Charles I. He was notably involved in the Battle of Naseby in 1645, which was a significant victory for the Parliamentarians.

In the 18th century, Robert Yow (1736-1804) was a successful merchant and landowner in the county of Gloucestershire. He was also a prominent philanthropist and contributed to the construction of several churches and schools in the area.

Moving into the 19th century, Mary Yow (1815-1892) was a renowned author and poet from Lincolnshire. She published several collections of poetry and was celebrated for her vivid descriptions of rural life and the English countryside.

These examples showcase the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have carried the Yow surname throughout history, spanning various regions of England and different walks of life.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yow

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

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

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

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