2000
#36,276
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 583
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.22
Rare Last name
Yadav
A surname originating from pastoral communities in India.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 5,610 Americans carry the last name Yadav. That puts it at #6,633 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.64 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 61,097 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Yadav surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Yadav with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
5.6K
1 in 61,097
Census rank
#6,633
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.6
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.9K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,892 bearers of the surname Yadav in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.64 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 6633rd position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Yadav, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.0%. The next largest groups are White (3.0%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Yadav
The surname Yadav originates from the Indian subcontinent, specifically from the regions that are today known as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra. The name dates back to the ancient times of the Vedic period around 1500 to 500 BCE. Yadav is derived from the Sanskrit word Yadu, referring to the legendary king Yadu. The descendants of Yadu are known as Yadavas, marking the genesis of the surname.
The etymology of Yadav is rooted in ancient Hindu mythology and literature. Yadu was a prominent figure in the ancient Indian texts such as the Mahabharata and the Puranas, where he is chronicled as a significant ancestor of Lord Krishna. The Puranas mention that the Yadavas were a prominent clan of the Chandravamsha (lunar dynasty) to which Krishna belonged. Thus, Yadav literally means a descendant of Yadu.
Historically, the Yadavas were known to be a powerful and influential group. They were first mentioned in various ancient Indian scriptures and manuscripts. Inscriptions dating back to the 6th and 7th centuries have been found that reference Yadava rulers. Historically, the name Yadav has been associated with various dynasties, such as the Seuna (Yadava) dynasty that ruled parts of present-day Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh between the 9th and 14th centuries.
The earliest recorded examples of the Yadav surname appear in medieval Indian history. One of the most notable figures is King Bhillama V, who ruled the Seuna (Yadava) dynasty from 1187 to 1191. His reign marks significant achievements in expanding the kingdom and consolidating its power.
In terms of place names, the name has been associated with many regions in India. The city of Devagiri (modern-day Daulatabad) served as the capital of the Yadava dynasty during the rule of King Bhillama V and his successors. Some variations in place names related to Yadav rulers exist due to regional linguistic influences.
Another historic figure bearing the surname is Simhana, a prominent Yadava king who ruled from circa 1200 to 1247. During his reign, the Yadava dynasty reached its zenith, establishing significant architectural and cultural advancements in the region.
Further historical reference to the Yadav surname includes the medieval military leader Raja Jai Singh Yadav, who played a crucial role in resisting invasions during the late medieval period, contributing to his community's lasting legacy.
Jagat Singh Yadav was another influential Yadav figure who played a pivotal role in the early resistance against colonial forces during the 19th century. His contributions are remembered in local folklore and recorded in regional historical accounts.
In the realm of modern history, Rao Tula Ram Yadav (1825-1863) stands out as a notable freedom fighter during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He led forces against British colonial rule, leaving an indelible mark on the history of India's struggle for independence.
Over centuries, the Yadav surname has remained a testament to the rich cultural and historical fabric of India, rooted deeply in ancient traditions, mythologies, and significant epochs of Indian history. All these aspects together paint a detailed and intricate history of the surname Yadav, woven with tales of valor, governance, and resilience.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Yadav
Among Census respondents with the surname Yadav, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.0%. The next largest groups are White (3.0%) and Two or More Races (1.7%).
The bar chart below shows how Yadav bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Yadav surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Asian and Pacific Islander94.0% · 4,598
- White3.0% · 146
- Two or more races1.7% · 81
- Hispanic or Latino0.6% · 29
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 20
- Black or African American0.4% · 18
Timeline
Historical Census data for Yadav
Yadav appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#15,734
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 1,853
+1,270 bearers (+217.8%)
Per 100,000 0.63
Rank movement Up 20,542 places
2020
#6,633
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,892
+3,039 bearers (+164.0%)
Per 100,000 1.64
Rank movement Up 9,101 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #36,276 | 583 | 0.22 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #15,734 | 1,853 | 0.63 | +1,270 bearers (+217.8%) | Up 20,542 places |
| 2020 | #6,633 | 4,892 | 1.64 | +3,039 bearers (+164.0%) | Up 9,101 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Yadav surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #15,734 | #6,633 | 57.8% |
| Count | 1,853 | 4,892 | 164.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.63 | 1.64 | 159.8% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Yadav bearers went from 1,853 to 4,892 (+164.0% change). The surname moved up 9,101 positions in the national ranking, going from #15,734 to #6,633.
FAQ
Yadav surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Yadav?
Name Census estimates that about 5,610 living Americans carry the surname Yadav. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 61,097 residents.
How common is Yadav?
Yadav ranks #6,633 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.64 per 100,000 residents, which is about 2 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 4,892 people with the surname Yadav. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (5,610), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.64 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.64 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 2 of them to have the surname Yadav.
Has Yadav become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Yadav went from 1,853 recorded bearers to 4,892. That is an increase of 3,039 (+164.0%). In the national ranking it rose from #15,734 to #6,633.
What does the Census say about the background of Yadav?
Among Census respondents with the surname Yadav, the largest self-reported group is Asian/Pacific Islander at 94.0%. The next largest groups are White (3.0%) and Two or More Races (1.7%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Asian/Pacific Islander is the largest self-reported group for the surname Yadav in the 2020 Census, accounting for 94.0% (4,598 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Yadav appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Asian/Pacific Islander (94.0%), White (3.0%), Two or More Races (1.7%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Yadav (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Yadav mean?
A surname originating from pastoral communities in India. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Yadav (1.64 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Yadav?
Find out how many Americans have the surname Yadav on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — a quick modern estimate with the living-bearer count front and centre.