Surname · Korean origin
Yoon
Meaning
The surname Yoon means To govern (尹).
Origin
Korean
Type
clan name
U.S. rank (2010)
#2,848
U.S. bearers (2010)
11,563
How common is it?
Yoon ranks #2,848 among U.S. surnames (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 11,563 people.
The origin of the surname Yoon
Yoon is written with the hanja 尹, “to govern.”
How Korean surnames work
Korean surnames are few in number but shared by huge populations — Kim, Lee (Yi) and Park alone account for a large share of all Koreans. Each is written with a hanja (a Chinese-origin character) and is tied to a clan or lineage identified by an ancestral seat (bongwan). The surname comes first, before the given name, and Korean women traditionally keep their own surname after marriage.
Variants & spellings
- Yun
Frequently asked questions
What does the surname Yoon mean?
The surname Yoon means To govern (尹). Yoon is written with the hanja 尹, “to govern.”
Where does the surname Yoon come from?
Yoon is a surname of Korean origin.
What kind of surname is Yoon?
Yoon is a clan name surname.
How common is the surname Yoon in the United States?
Yoon ranks #2,848 among U.S. surnames (2010 U.S. Census), recorded for about 11,563 people.