Explore the Family Name Yam
The meaning of Yam
1. Chinese: Cantonese form of the surname 任, see Ren 1. 2. Chinese: Cantonese form of the surname 陰, see Yin 4. 3. Chinese: variant Romanization of the surnames 嚴 and 閻, see Yan 1 and 2. 4. Amerindian (Mexico): Mayan name, from yaam ‘space between two things’, also ‘sea waves’. Some characteristic forenames: Chinese Chang, Wai, Ying, Boon, Chi, Chi Man, Chong, Chung, Fung, Kan, Kiwon, Ku, Kwun, Lik, Lim.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Yam in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Yam has grown in popularity from 2000 to 2010. The rank of this surname moved up from 18,447 in 2000 to 16,041 in 2010, marking an increase of 13.04%. In terms of count, the number of people with the surname Yam rose from 1,382 in 2000 to 1,808 in 2010, representing a notable growth of 30.82%. The proportion of individuals with the surname Yam per 100,000 people also increased by roughly 19.61% during this ten-year period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #18,447 | #16,041 | 13.04% |
| Count | 1,382 | 1,808 | 30.82% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.51 | 0.61 | 19.61% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Yam
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows that a majority of individuals with the surname Yam identified as Asian/Pacific Islander in both 2000 and 2010, although there was a slight decrease of 2.61% in this population over the decade. The percentage of those identifying with two or more races decreased by 32.45%, while the proportion identifying as white also dropped by 15.59%. Interestingly, there was a significant surge in the Hispanic population who carry the surname Yam, with an increase of 65.28%. There were no recorded instances of Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native individuals with the surname Yam in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 83.94% | 81.75% | -2.61% |
| Hispanic | 5.79% | 9.57% | 65.28% |
| White | 6.22% | 5.25% | -15.59% |
| Two or More Races | 3.76% | 2.54% | -32.45% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |