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

Yuenger, 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 Yuenger surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yuenger in America

Yuenger is the 98553rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yuenger surname appeared 184 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 Yuenger.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yuenger 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 Yuenger

The surname Yuenger is believed to have its origins in Europe, particularly in the German-speaking regions. Rooted in the Middle High German word "Jünger," which means "younger" or "young man," the name may have initially been a distinction used to differentiate a younger son or a junior family member from an elder. This etymology suggests the name might have been occupational or descriptive, referring to one’s age or place within the family hierarchy.

The historical references of the name Yuenger can be traced back to medieval Germanic regions. Variants and similar spellings of the name, such as Junger, Junge, or Jungerer, appear in various historical documents and manuscripts dating back to the 13th and 14th centuries. The name is documented in a variety of forms in early European records, reflecting the linguistic and dialectical diversity of the time.

One of the earliest known examples of a person bearing a variation of the name is Heinrich Junger, recorded in the town of Augsburg in 1324. His occupation as a carpenter is noted in municipal records, which suggests that the name could relate to his standing within his trade guild as a younger or less experienced member. Similarly, a Johann Junge is mentioned in 1356 in the records of Mainz as a merchant, implying that the name had broad occupational applicability.

Another notable individual is Martin Junge, noted in the archival material from Nuremberg around 1481. He was a scholar associated with the city's burgeoning academic scene, indicating that the surname was not confined to a single social stratum or profession. By the late 16th century, the name appears more standardized in written records, reflecting the growing consistency in surnames brought about by administrative and bureaucratic changes.

During the 17th century, individuals with the surname began migrating out of the Germanic regions, especially due to the Thirty Years' War causing significant upheaval. An example is Peter Yuenger, who emigrated to the Netherlands and appears in Rotterdam's city records in 1657 as a silversmith. His descendants are known to have spread further into England and later to the American colonies, where the variant spelling Yuenger became more prevalent.

In the 18th century, the name appears in the American colonies with figures such as Johann Peter Yuenger, born in 1702, who settled in Pennsylvania. His family became known for their involvement in the early German-American communities. Fast forward to the mid-19th century, Catherine Yuenger, born in 1829, emerges in Chicago’s public records where she was recognized for her involvement in early educational reforms in the city, marking another significant individual in the lineage.

Overall, the surname Yuenger has historic roots reaching back several centuries across various European regions. Its evolution from older spellings and dialectical changes to a more consistent form tells a story of geographical movement and adaptability across different cultures and societies.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yuenger

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

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

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

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