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

Yukon, 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 Yukon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yukon in America

Yukon is the 134712th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yukon surname appeared 125 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 Yukon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yukon 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 Yukon

The surname Yukon has its origins in Russia, specifically within the Siberian region, dating back to the 17th century. The name is derived from the indigenous Kutchin (Gwich'in) word yookkene, meaning "great river," referring to the Yukon River. Historically, indigenous people living along the Yukon River adopted names related to its grandeur and significance in their lives, passing these down through generations.

Yukon first appeared in historical records in the 1600s when Russian explorers began documenting the sprawling Siberian territories. One early reference to the name appeared in a Russian manuscript detailing the exploration of the Yukon River region by Semyon Dezhnyov, an explorer, and cartographer, during the mid-17th century.

By the mid-18th century, the surname had begun to spread beyond its indigenous roots, with Russian settlers adopting it as their own. One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the surname in recorded history is Ivan Yukonov, a Russian fur trader born in 1745. His trade expeditions along the Yukon River are well-documented, and he was noted for establishing trade relations between indigenous communities and Russian settlers.

The surname Yukon also appears in the Register of the Russian Orthodox Church in the mid-19th century. Fyodor Yukonovsky, born in 1821, was a noted figure, a priest who played a significant role in the spread of Christianity among indigenous communities in Siberia. His contributions to religious and cultural exchanges were substantial in the intercultural history of Russia's eastern territories.

Yukon's spanning influence is also evident in American history. During the Gold Rush era of the late 1800s, many individuals bearing the name migrated to the Yukon Territory, seeking fortune and adventure. One notable figure was Alexei Yukon, born in 1858 in Russian Yakutia, who became a prospector and is believed to have discovered one of the more prolific gold deposits along the Klondike River in 1897.

Into the early 20th century, the surname continued to appear in various records, marking the migration and settlement patterns of individuals bearing the name. Natalia Yukonina, born in 1902, became a prominent Soviet ethnographer who documented the cultures and languages of Siberian indigenous peoples. Her academic contributions are still referenced in contemporary studies.

Overall, the surname Yukon carries a rich historical tapestry, blending indigenous origins with Russian settler history, and extending its narrative through migration and exploration into North American frontiers. Its bearers have made notable contributions in various fields, forming an intriguing lineage tied closely to the geographic and cultural history of regions surrounding the great Yukon River.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yukon

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

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

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

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