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

Yuknis, 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 Yuknis surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yuknis in America

Yuknis is the 123064th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yuknis surname appeared 140 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 Yuknis.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yuknis 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 Yuknis

The surname Yuknis is believed to have its origins in Eastern Europe, particularly within Lithuania. Its etymology is linked to the Lithuanian language, which is part of the Baltic group of the Indo-European family. The name Yuknis may be connected to older Lithuanian words, potentially derived from "jūknus" or similar roots, which might relate to descriptive characteristics of individuals or families.

During the medieval period, surnames began to take on more significance as they were used to identify individuals and families more accurately. The name Yuknis appears in various historical records from the region, though the earliest specific records are sparse due to the turbulent history of the Baltic states, including Lithuania's interactions with neighboring powers and political entities.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the name Yuknis can be traced back to the late 16th century. A record from 1592 mentions a Tomas Yuknis, a landowner in the Žemaitija region of Lithuania. Žemaitija, also known as Samogitia, is an ethnographic region in northwestern Lithuania, which is known for maintaining traditional customs and language longer than other parts of Lithuania.

In the 18th century, a notable individual named Jurgis Yuknis (b. 1710, d. 1783) emerged in historical documents. He was a respected farmer and a local community leader in the Kaunas County. His descendants continued to live in this region and contributed to its agricultural development during the period.

By the 19th century, the name Yuknis appeared in various legal and ecclesiastical records. For example, in 1836, a Petras Yuknis, born in 1798, was a well-documented smallholder in Aukštaitija, the northeastern region of Lithuania. This period marked significant social changes within Lithuania, leading to more comprehensive record-keeping that helps trace family histories.

Another prominent figure is Jonas Yuknis (b. 1850, d. 1917), who became known for his involvement in the Lithuanian National Revival. This was a period in the late 19th and early 20th centuries where Lithuanians sought to reassert their cultural and linguistic identity under the Russian Empire’s rule. He was an activist and contributed to the collection of Lithuanian folklore and traditions, helping to preserve the nation’s cultural heritage.

In the early 20th century, the name Yuknis appeared in the United States as well, attributed largely to the wave of Lithuanian immigrants who moved to the US seeking better opportunities. Among them was Antanas Yuknis (b. 1884, d. 1942), who became well-known within the Lithuanian-American community in Chicago for his efforts to support immigrant families and promote Lithuanian culture abroad.

The surname Yuknis thus has a rich history that is deeply intertwined with the cultural and social narratives of Lithuania. Its presence in historical records from different periods highlights the family’s continuity and adaptation through significant historical changes, ranging from medieval times to the modern era. The name continues to be a marker of Lithuanian heritage and identity.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yuknis

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

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

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

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