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

Yurko, 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 Yurko surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yurko in America

Yurko is the 29019th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yurko surname appeared 818 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 Yurko.

We can also compare 2010 data for Yurko 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 Yurko

The surname Yurko finds its origins in Eastern Europe, primarily within the borders of present-day Ukraine and neighboring regions such as Poland and Belarus. The name Yurko is derived from the given name Yuriy or Yury, which itself has origins in the Greek name Georgios, meaning "farmer" or "earth worker." This name became prevalent in the area during the spread of Orthodox Christianity and the veneration of Saint George, a popular saint in the Orthodox Christian tradition.

The earliest records of the surname Yurko appear in medieval documents from the 14th century in what is now Western Ukraine. These records often mention individuals with the name Yurko in official documents, church records, and land ownership papers. The consistent use of the name suggests it was well-established among the local population by this time. It was common for surnames to be adapted from given names, especially from those of saints, and Yurko is no exception.

One of the first historical references to the surname Yurko can be found in a 1397 register detailing land grants in the region of Galicia, which was under the rule of the Kingdom of Poland at the time. Here, a certain Ivan Yurko is mentioned as receiving a parcel of land from the local noble. This indicates that the name was not only in use but associated with individuals of some standing within the community.

In the mid-15th century, another notable individual, Petro Yurko, appears in a set of legal documents concerning a property dispute in the city of Lviv. These documents, dated 1452, indicate that Petro was a respected member of the local merchant class, suggesting that the surname Yurko was not only prevalent but also present among various strata of society.

Fast forward to the 17th century, the surname Yurko gained further prominence in the Cossack ranks. Specifically, Semen Yurko, a Cossack leader born in 1645, is documented in the annals of the Ukrainian Cossack Hetmanate. Semen Yurko participated in several pivotal battles against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and is remembered for his leadership and bravery, cementing the name in the historical military records of the region.

In the late 18th century, during the times of the Polish partitions, the surname appears once more in official Russian documents. Mykola Yurko, born in 1762, was a well-known blacksmith in the village of Zhytomyr and registered in the tax records of the Russian Empire following the annexations. Mykola’s contribution to local craftsmanship and industry was well-documented, reflecting the continued use of the name over centuries.

By the 19th century, individuals bearing the surname Yurko began to migrate across various parts of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and beyond. One particularly noted figure during this period was Ivan Yurko, born in 1825, who became an influential journalist and publisher in the city of Lviv. His writings contributed significantly to the regional literature and the spread of nationalist ideas among the Ukrainian population.

The historical trajectory of the surname Yurko illustrates a deep-rooted heritage within Eastern Europe, with notable bearers contributing to various facets of societal development over several centuries. From medieval landowners to Cossack leaders and influential intellectuals, the name Yurko has a rich and varied history, firmly intertwined with the cultural and historical fabric of the region.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yurko

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

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

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

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