Explore the Family Name Yellen
The meaning of Yellen
1. English (Somerset): probably a variant of Yelland or Yellin. 2. Americanized form of Norwegian Hjellen: from the definite singular form of Old Norse hjallr ‘terrace, ledge’ (see Hjelle). 3. Americanized form of Polish Jeleń, Slovenian, Czech, and Jewish (Ashkenazic) Jelen, Slovak Jeleň, all meaning ‘(deer) stag’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Yellen in the United States?
The popularity of the surname Yellen has seen a slight decrease over a decade, according to data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, Yellen ranked 33,605th in terms of its prevalence among all surnames, with approximately 640 individuals bearing this name. By 2010, however, its rank had dropped to 36,426th and the number of individuals with the Yellen surname had decreased by 4.06% to 614. Consequently, the proportion of individuals named Yellen per 100,000 people also fell by 12.5%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #33,605 | #36,426 | -8.39% |
| Count | 640 | 614 | -4.06% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.24 | 0.21 | -12.5% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Yellen
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Yellen has also shifted somewhat, based on data from the Decennial U.S. Census. In 2000, 95.63% of those with the Yellen surname identified as White, which slightly decreased to 93.49% in 2010. The percentage of Yellens identifying as Hispanic saw a significant rise, from 1.25% in 2000 to 2.44% in 2010. Interestingly, the 2010 census also reported individuals with the Yellen surname who identified as Asian/Pacific Islander and those who identified with two or more races, categories that were not reported in 2000. There were no recorded instances of Yellens identifying as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 95.63% | 93.49% | -2.24% |
| Hispanic | 1.25% | 2.44% | 95.2% |
| Two or More Races | 1.56% | 1.79% | 14.74% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 1.14% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |