Skip Ancestry navigation Skip to Footer Ancestry Home
  • Home
  • Trees
  • Search
  • Memories
  • DNA
  • Subscribe
  • Cart
  • Sign In
Home
Loading

Trees you own

    Shared with you

      Tree tools

      • My Trees
      • First Name Meanings
      • Last Name Meanings
      • Individual Records Search
      • Family Trees Support
      • Start a New Tree
      • Upload a GEDCOM
      Loading
      • All Collections
      • Census & Voter Lists
      • Birth, Marriage & Death
      • Military
      • Immigration & Travel
      • Public Member Trees
      • Card Catalogue
      • Member Search
      Memories
      Loading
      • Register a kit
      • AncestryDNA® Learning Hub
      • Traits Learning Hub
      • AncestryDNA®
      • AncestryDNA® Support
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Discover More Family Names with an Ancestry 14-day Free Trial* 
      • Support Centre
      • About Us
      • Site Map
      • Gift Memberships
        • Ancestry Corporate
        • Fold3.com
        • ForcesWarRecords.com
        • Geneanet.org
        • Newspapers.com
        • ProGenealogists.com
        • RootsWeb.com
      • © 2006-2026 Ancestry
      • Privacy
      • Cookies
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Operated by Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company
      Group of people

      Meaning of the first name Yankee

      Origin

      American

      Meaning

      U.S. Northerner

      Variations

      Frankee, Agnaiyanke, Akeeva
      The name Yankee traces its origins to early American history and has come to represent the identity of U.S. Northerners. It first emerged during the colonial era, when English settlers arrived in America. The term Yankee was initially used by the Dutch residents of New Amsterdam (now New York City) to refer to the English settlers. It derives from the Dutch name Janke, a diminutive of the given name Jan, which is equivalent to John in English. Over time, the term Yankee evolved and became more widely used to describe all English-speaking settlers in North America.

      In modern-day usage, the name Yankee commonly refers to a person from, or associated with, the United States of America. It has become ingrained in the national consciousness and conjures up images of American patriotism, resilience, and self-reliance. The name Yankee also carries a regional connotation, specifically referring to individuals from the northern states of the U.S. The term has been immortalized in literature, most notably in the famous song Yankee Doodle, which emerged during the American Revolutionary War. Furthermore, the name Yankee has been adopted by various sports teams and organizations as a symbol of American pride. Overall, the name Yankee represents the historical heritage and modern-day identity of American Northerners.

      Based on our records...

      Sullivan

      Sullivan

      This is the most common surname associated with Yankee.
      Julia

      Julia

      This is the most common name of those married to a Yankee.
      Joel

      Joel

      This is the most common name for a child of a Yankee.
      Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. - © Mapbox - © OpenStreetMap - Improve this map

      What are you curious about?

      Ready to learn more about your own family? Here are two ways to begin.
      Start a free trial
      Order AncestryDNA
      calendar.webp
      Based on our records...

      Did you know?

      1827 is when there were the most people born with the first name Yankee.

      Explore the origins of another name.