Surname Yardsley - Meaning and Origin
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Yardsley: What does the surname Yardsley mean?
The last name Yardsley is of English origin, meaning "one who dwells by the yard or enclosure". The name is also thought to be derived from a place in Cheshire, England, where a family of the same name held a vast estate in the 13th century. The yard of an estate usually designated an area cleared from the surrounding land that was cultivated or used for grazing.
Yardsley is an old English name, with a long and proud history. It first appeared in the 13th century and many members of the family were respected landowners in Cheshire and Staffordshire. They had a good reputation for being loyal to the crown and providing assistance to the people. The name is also known to have been granted to several generations of Monks and priests of Saxon origin.
In modern times, the Yardsley family has made a renowned name for itself as a highly talented and enterprising bunch of craftspeople, entrepreneurs and business owners. There are many who are successful in music, medicine, politics and even finance. Many have found recognition in the traditional arts, especially in pottery, stained glass and painting.
Today, the name is still used and proudly cherished around the world and those with it are proud of its long and distinguished past. Yardsley is distinctive and unique and is a lasting reminder of the dedication and hard work of those who bore it over many generations.
Order DNA origin analysisYardsley: Where does the name Yardsley come from?
The last name Yardsley is most commonly associated with the United Kingdom today. It is derived from a place name and is mostly found in the English Midlands, including Staffordshire, Midlands East and Derby, and Warwickshire. The name could also be linked to regions outside of the Midlands, as there were places called Yerdley or Yardley scattered across England all the way from Sussex to Cheshire. Yardley places were often hamlets, tiny rural communities that eventually disappeared from the landscape.
The name Yardsley is still quite common in the UK, with 283 people registered with it in 2019 according to surname data from the Office for National Statistics. The Yardsley name seems to have increased in popularity during the 18th and 19th centuries, as it was adopted by non-Yardley families whose ancestor moved from elsewhere in the UK to settle in Midlands towns like Birmingham, Leicester and Coventry, which all have large Yardsley populations.
Outside of the UK, Yardsley is not quite as popular as it is within the country itself, however there are still some significant pockets of Yardsley families who have spread far and wide from their Midlands roots. In the US, the surname is particularly common in California, New York and Massachusetts and, according to the US census of 2000, it was the 415th most common surname.
Variations of the surname Yardsley
The surname Yardsley has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Yarsley, Yerkesley, Yarxley, Yerksley, Yerxly, Yarckley, Yarxly, Yarchley, Yerxley, Yarchly, Yarcksly, Yarxlley, Yerclay, Yerxily, Yercsley, Yerxlly, Yerclay, Yerkley, Yercsly, Yerclay, Yercksly, Yerckly, Yerxlley, Yercksley, Yerkslee, Yerckly, Yerxlley, Yerckslee, Yarcksley and Yerkslee. It is possible that there are other variants and spellings of this surname as well.
Yardsley is an Old English locational surname which is believed to have originated from a place in Northamptonshire. It is made up of two elements; the first being "gar" which means wash or low-lying land, and "ley" which translates to a meadow or field. Therefore, the meaning of the surname is believed to mean a meadow or field near a wash or low-lying land.
The various surnames and spellings of this name have evolved over time through migration and displacement. In other words, when people moved to other areas, their names often changed due to dialects and regional variations. In addition, some of these surnames may have also been constructed due to misspellings or mistakes in official records.
Famous people with the name Yardsley
- Keith Yardsley: Australian model and actor
- Charles Yardsley: American Pacific Coast League baseball player
- Aldous Yardsley: English writer and journalist
- John George Yardsley: Australian physicist and astronomer
- Phillip Yardsley: American Major League Baseball pitcher
- Mary Yardsley: English stage actress
- Harry Yardsley: British actor and writer
- Sydney Grounds Yardsley: English artist and illustrator
- Peter Yardsley: British actor
- Malcolm Yardsley: British actor