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

Yum, 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 Yum surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yum in America

Yum is the 30043rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yum surname appeared 781 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 Yum.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yum 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 Yum

The surname Yum has origins that trace back to Korea. The surname likely emerged during the Goryeo Dynasty, which ruled from 918 to 1392 AD. Historically, many Korean surnames were derived from clan names or regions of origin. The Yum surname, written as 염 in Hangul and 廉 in Hanja, implies roots linked to certain regions in Korea.

Etymologically, the Hanja character 廉 can mean "clean" or "honest," which suggests that the name may have had connotations of personal virtues. The geographic origins of the Yum family name are concentrated in Cheongju, a major city in Chungcheongbuk-do province. This indicates that the Yum clan might have initially settled in that area before dispersing to other regions.

One of the earliest records of the surname Yum is found in historical texts documenting the aristocrats and scholars of the Goryeo Dynasty. Yum Jeong-hyeon (1163-1240), a notable figure, served as a high-ranking official at the royal court during the late Goryeo period. His contributions to statecraft and literature are well-documented in various Goryeo records.

During the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1897), figures bearing the Yum surname gained prominence in scholarly and governmental roles, further cementing the name's historical significance. Yum Jae-hong (1529-1591), a Confucian scholar, is one such personality. He was recognized for his involvement in the compilation of important philosophical texts and for his advisory role at the royal court.

Another notable figure is Yum Sa-tel (1670-1738), a military officer who played a critical role in repelling Japanese invasions during the 16th century. His bravery and strategic prowess are chronicled in military records and historical annals of the Joseon period.

In the 19th century, Yum Gwang-jin (1803-1883) became a prominent figure in Korean arts. He was a renowned painter whose works depicted traditional landscapes and scenes from daily Korean life. His artistic contributions are preserved in museums and continue to influence Korean art history.

Finally, Yum Chi-seung (1879-1950) was a key political figure during Korea's transition from the Joseon Dynasty to modern times. He was involved in various reform movements aimed at modernizing Korea and played a significant part in the Korean independence movements against Japanese colonial rule.

The surname Yum, thus, carries with it a rich legacy intertwined with Korea's history, encapsulating scholarly pursuits, military valor, artistic expression, and political activism over several centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yum

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

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

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

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