Surname Yarbury - Meaning and Origin

Yarbury: What does the surname Yarbury mean?

The last name Yarbury is of English origin. It is a locational name from a place named Yarbury, which is thought to be located in Oxfordshire. It likely derives from the Old English words "ear" and "burh", meaning "fortified place at the bend in the river" or "hemmed-in land near the bend of the river". This suggests that the town of Yarbury may have been located near a bend in a river.

In some cases, Yarbury was used as a nickname for someone born and raised in the town of Yarbury. The name also could have developed from the place name, if a person moved to a different location and adopted the name of their birthplace as their surname.

The Yarbury family name first appeared in records in 1279, when Alexander de Yarbury was recorded as living in Oxfordshire. Since then it has spread throughout much of Europe, with many branches of the family living in England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France, Germany, and the Netherlands.

One hypothesis suggests that the Yarbury name is related to the variant Yarborough. This could indicate a connection between the two families.

Today, the Yarbury surname is a reminder of a lineage that dates back centuries, and of a place that still exists today. It is a fitting tribute to a town that has had, and still has, an impact on the lives of many.

Yarbury: Where does the name Yarbury come from?

The last name Yarbury is not found throughout large geographical areas of the world today. It is, however, present in several places throughout England. Records indicate that the last name Yarbury was first found in Yorkshire and Lancashire in the northern part of the country. It is also found in Elizabethan records recorded in London and Oxfordshire.

Today the most prevalent population of Yarburys live in England. Though the name itself is quite old, the vast majority of the population live within the United Kingdom and have been traced to British ancestry. It is not thought to be especially common outside the British Isles.

The last name appears to be particularly prevalent in the London boroughs of Brent and Camden, Coventry in the West Midlands, and Edinburgh in Scotland. There are, however, also small clusters of people with the last name scattered throughout other places in the United Kingdom, like the Isle of Wight and Cornwall, and Cheshire.

It is possible that, due to migration, there are small numbers of people today who possess the last name Yarbury in other parts of the world. It is unlikely, however, the name is present in any significant numbers anywhere outside of the United Kingdom.

Variations of the surname Yarbury

Yarbury is a fairly uncommon surname, and variants and other spellings of the same origin include Yarbary, Yarburry, Yarburye, Yarboro, Yarbrough, Yarbro, Yarbory, Yarborough, Yarborow, Yarbarrow, Yarbrorough, Yarburrow, Yarbarry, and Yarbarr. There are also combinations of some of these spellings, such as Yarbary, where elements of the other spellings are combined.

The origin of the surname Yarbury is uncertain, however it is thought to mostly likely be of Old English origin. It is believed that early versions of Yarbury were derived from the web of localised dialects that existed in the middle ages in parts of England. This suggests that the name was most likely firstly used as a topographical name to describe someone who lived near a creek, as the derivation of the name likely stems from ‘eare’ meaning ‘stream’. It is likely then that place names such as Yarebury and Yarboro were then adopted as surnames.

Yarbury also has a French origin, where it is believed to be derived from the Old French personal name Ernebald, which is composed of elements ‘ern’ meaning ‘eagle’, and ‘bald’ meaning ‘bold’ or ‘brave’. It is therefore thought that the French version of the name could be a nickname for a courageous or brave man.

The earliest recorded spellings of Yarbury can be seen in English records in the 16th century, where it was spelled Yarbery. This document suggested a more certain link between the surname Yarbury and the original place name Yarebury, found in Essex county records dating back to 1250.

Whatever its origin, the surname Yarbury is still rare today, and the various spelling variants all have the same origin.

Famous people with the name Yarbury

• Elizabeth Yarbury, a professional dancer and choreographer.
• Ernie Yarbury, a champion baseball player.
• Luke Yarbury, a professional basketball player.
• Toby Yarbury, a musician and songwriter.
• Stu Yarbury, a filmmaker, screenwriter, and television producer.
• Jackie Yarbury, an actress and model.
• Lee Yarbury, a journalist and editor.
• Floyd Yarbury, a rock guitarist.
• Tricia Yarbury, a professional marathon runner.
• Terra Yarbury, an ice skater.
• Will Yarbury, a tennis player.
• Harry Yarbury, a famous photographer.
• John Yarbury, a retired racecar driver.
• Freddie Yarbury, a former Major League Baseball player.
• Max Yarbury, a poet.
• Derek Yarbury, a former NBA player.
• Fiona Yarbury, a professional athlete.
• Charles Yarbury, a British actor.
• Pamela Yarbury, a Broadway actress.
• Nathan Yarbury, a renowned wildlife photographer.

Other surnames

YarburgYarburghYarburough