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

Yunk, 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 Yunk surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yunk in America

Yunk is the 58481st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yunk surname appeared 347 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 Yunk.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yunk 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 Yunk

The surname Yunk traces its origins to German-speaking regions in Europe, particularly in what is now Germany and Switzerland. It is believed to have first emerged during the late Middle Ages, around the 14th century. The areas from which the name originates were characterized by a mix of rural and burgeoning urban settlements, including regions such as Bavaria, Swabia, and the Swiss cantons.

Yunk likely derives from variations of older Germanic words or names. It is possibly related to the Middle High German word "jung," meaning "young." This could point to the surname being used originally as a descriptor for the younger of two individuals with the same first name within a family or community. Another possibility is its connection to the German word "Junker," which referred to a young nobleman or squire, suggesting a social rank or a profession tied to the land-owning class.

The surname Yunk appears in historical records and manuscripts from the 15th and 16th centuries. One of the earliest documented examples of the Yunk name can be found in the municipal records of Zurich, Switzerland in 1471, an indication of the name's use in civic and legal matters. Over time, the spelling of the surname varied, including versions such as Junk, Jung, and Yunck.

Among notable historical figures bearing the surname Yunk is Hans Yunk, a known merchant born in 1498 and died in 1564. Hans was prominent in the trade routes between the German states and Poland. Another historical figure is Maria Yunk, born in 1652 and died in 1699, she was renowned for her detailed and preserved personal letters that give insight into the life of a woman during the 17th century in Bavaria.

Other prominent individuals include Johann Yunk, an early 18th-century clergyman born in 1710 and died in 1786, who left behind various theological writings. Friedrich Yunk, born in 1763 and died in 1830, served as an advisor to the Bavarian court and authored several texts on governance and law. Lastly, Kristoff Yunk, a skilled artisan and craftsman, born in 1820, and noted for his contributions to the clock-making industry in 19th-century Germany.

The surname Yunk is steeped in a rich tapestry of historical context, hinting at a lineage that spans several centuries and regions within the German-speaking world. It encapsulates a blend of linguistic, social, and professional origins that speak to the diverse ways surnames can evolve over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yunk

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

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

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

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