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Yancey Family History

Yancey Surname Meaning

Altered form of an unidentified surname possibly of the like-sounding Dutch name Janse or its cognate Jansen (final -n is silent in some dialects of Dutch).

It may also derive from some similar English surname such as Jauncey or Jancey.

These surnames are variants of Johnsey, highlighting the diversity of surname origins.

Such alterations can often occur due to regional dialects or variations in spelling over time.

Understanding the origins of these names can provide insights into cultural and linguistic influences across different regions.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Where is the Yancey family from?

You can see how Yancey families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Yancey family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Yancey families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 34 Yancey families living in Virginia. This was about 45% of all the recorded Yancey's in USA. Virginia had the highest population of Yancey families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Yancey surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Yancey ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Yancey. 23% of Yancey men worked as a Farmer and 11% of Yancey women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Yancey were Farming and Teacher.

View Census Data for Yancey | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    23%
  • Laborer
    20%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Farming
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    11%
  • Cook
    8%
  • Housekeeper
    7%
  • Teacher
    6%

What Yancey family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 33,000 census records available for the last name Yancey. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Yancey census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Yancey

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Yancey. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Yancey immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Yancey. For the veterans among your Yancey ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Yancey military records

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