Explore the Family Name Yoakum
The meaning of Yoakum
Americanized form of German Jochem or Joachim. This surname is also found among African Americans. Compare Yoachum, Yoakam, Yocum, Yokem, and Yokum. History: The majority of the Yoakums trace their origin to Johann Matthäus Yoakum or Jochem (possibly Joachim), born c.1698 in Germany, died 1783 in KY or VA. His descendants bear various forms of the surname, including Yoachum, Yocom, Yocum, Yokem, Yokom, and Yokum. However, several of these (and of other possible) forms are also borne by the descendants of various other immigrants from Germany.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Yoakum in the United States?
According to the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Yoakum has seen a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Yoakum was ranked as the 11,371st most popular surname in the United States, but by 2010, it had fallen to the 12,856th position, marking a decrease of 13.06%. The count of people with this surname also declined from 2,544 to 2,395, a drop of 5.86%. Additionally, the proportion of individuals named Yoakum per 100,000 individuals decreased by 13.83%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #11,371 | #12,856 | -13.06% |
| Count | 2,544 | 2,395 | -5.86% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.94 | 0.81 | -13.83% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Yoakum
The ethnic identity associated with the surname Yoakum has diversified over the decade, as evidenced by the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, 89.66% of individuals with the surname Yoakum identified as White, which slightly dropped to 87.35% in 2010. Those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased significantly from 0.47% in 2000 to 0.92% in 2010, showing a 95.74% change. Individuals identifying with two or more races grew by 31.49%, while those identifying as Black rose from 4.32% to 5.64%. The Hispanic representation also increased marginally from 3.11% to 3.42%. However, there was a significant decrease of 53.97% in the proportion of individuals identifying as American Indian and Alaskan Native.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 89.66% | 87.35% | -2.58% |
| Black | 4.32% | 5.64% | 30.56% |
| Hispanic | 3.11% | 3.42% | 9.97% |
| Two or More Races | 1.81% | 2.38% | 31.49% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.47% | 0.92% | 95.74% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.63% | 0.29% | -53.97% |