Surname Yarbraw - Meaning and Origin
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Yarbraw: What does the surname Yarbraw mean?
The last name Yarbraw is an English surname of unknown origin. Some historians believe it is a variant of the surname Yarborough, which is derived from the Old English place name Earberga, meaning "eagle hill." Others suggest that it could be a local variant of the surnames Hardbroom or Yarrow, derived from the plants of the same name, which are found in various parts of Europe.
The Yarbraw surname continues to be found mainly in England and the United States. In both countries, the surname is most commonly found in the South, where the surname appears to have been brought over by early settlers from the British Isles.
The Yarbraw surname is not particularly common, but it is shared by a number of notable individuals. Most notable among them is former NFL running back Ted Yarbrough, who played for both the Cleveland Browns and the New Orleans Saints in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Other Yarbraws living today include actors, musicians, and politicians.
The meaning of the Yarbraw surname remains a mystery, but those bearing the name may find solace in its somewhat unknowable past. The surname carries with it a sense of mystery and history, which only reinforces its timelessness and provides its bearers with a sense of shared identity and community.
Order DNA origin analysisYarbraw: Where does the name Yarbraw come from?
The last name Yarbraw is a unique surname that is not particularly common today. It is recorded in small numbers in the United States, Canada, England, Scotland and New Zealand. Most of the records of this surname have been found in the United States, where it is most commonly associated with the state of Tennessee.
In Tennessee, Yarbraw has been recorded as far back as the 1850s. The first recorded individual with the surname was William Yarbraw, who is believed to have arrived from England at some point in the mid-nineteenth century. This family is thought to have settled in the Knoxville area where branches of the family can still be found today.
Further evidence points towards the Yarbraw surname being of Welsh origin. Records indicate that the surname was common in Wales during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries and could have arrived in Tennessee from Wales. The uses of the name in other countries around the world suggest a possible migration from Wales to America and other parts of the world.
In modern times, the Yarbraw surname is mostly found in the United States, with the states of Tennessee and Arkansas bearing the highest concentrations. In England, Scotland and New Zealand, the name appears in small numbers and is not widely distributed. It seems likely that Yarbraw is a relatively uncommon name today.
Variations of the surname Yarbraw
The surname Yarbraw can be spelled as Yarbrough, Yarborough, Yarbro or Yarbrough. All of them originated from the English surname spelling of 'Eadbaldgraf' which was taken from the Olde English language.
In the United States, it is proposed that the Olde English name 'Eadbaldgraf' is derived from 'ead' meaning "prosperity, blessing and comfort"; 'bold' meaning "brave and powerful"; and 'graf' meaning "sundered". Other possible Olde English meanings include "the living chiefs or rulers of the people" and "state of residence."
Yarbraw might also be related to the Yorkshire surname, Yarboro, and be of Norse origin, with 'Yar' meaning 'river' and 'borowe' meaning 'fortress' or 'stronghold'. As such, the combination of 'Yar' and 'boro' might have been used to indicate someone who lived near a river or fortress.
The surnames Yarbrough and Yarborough have been used interchangeably in many cases but most frequently are found in the south-eastern United States. In some cases, spelling variants have been used by specific branches of a family to differentiate themselves.
It is also possible that Yarbraw is a variant of Yerby or Erby, which is an Old English name meaning "mighty king", stemming from 'Eadbaldgraf'. This is an incredibly rare surname and probably not related to the more common names listed above.
Overall, the surname Yarbraw is related to the names Yarbrough, Yarborough, Yarbro and Yarbrough and could have derived from Olde English, Norse, or a combination of both. It is also possible the name "Yerbraw" is a variant of Yerby or Erby.
Famous people with the name Yarbraw
- Rodney Yarbraw: an American football player
- Tracy Yarbraw: a professional dancer
- Robert Yarbraw: a former college basketball player
- Kay Yarbraw: an American businesswoman
- Dean Yarbraw: a former professional American football safety
- Marsha Yarbraw: a technology journalist
- Kenneth Yarbraw: a baseball pitcher
- Hunter Yarbraw: a former professional American football wide receiver
- Jennifer Yarbraw: an artist and entrepreneur
- Randy Yarbraw: a former head football coach