Surname Yearbrough - Meaning and Origin
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Yearbrough: What does the surname Yearbrough mean?
The last name Yearbrough is an English and German surname derived from a habitational name, referring to someone who came from a place named with the Old English pre 7th Century elements "gearu" meaning "precious" and "burh" meaning "fortified building, stronghold" or Old German "berg" meaning "hill". It can also be an occupational surname, possibly referring to a farmer or a person who lived near a fortified structure.
The distribution of the Yearbrough surname is largely resided in countries of England, Germany, the United States, Switzerland and the Netherlands. It is more prominent in the British Isles, where it is the 451st most popular last name.
In England, the surname is most commonly found in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it is ranked Hillary as the 317th and 609th most prevalent surname, respectively. In the United States, the surname is more extremely rare and the 2000 census found it ranked only 27, 963rd most popular surname.
The surname Yearbrough has an interesting and distinguished history behind it, and is steeped in many cultures and countries. It can often be found in lineage records dating back to the 1500s, and can be seen in great works of literature. Records show the presence of the name Yearbrough in various battles and wars, and many individuals with this surname have played prominent roles in a variety of professions throughout the years.
Order DNA origin analysisYearbrough: Where does the name Yearbrough come from?
The last name Yearbrough usually originated from the town of Yarmouth in the English county of Norfolk. Today, this surname has continued to be most commonly found in the United Kingdom, especially in England. The name Yearbrough had an even more focused concentration in Yorkshire during the 19th century, most likely because the surname had been taken by immigrants to the area.
In the United States, the surname Yearbrough is commonly found in the Midwest, with sizable populations in Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri. Though the exact numbers are hard to pinpoint accurately, it is estimated that there are between 5,000-7,000 people with the surname Yearbrough in the United States today.
In some parts of England, the name is spelled differently as Yeabro or Yerburgh. Similarly, in the United States, Yearbough is also a common spelling of the surname. In other countries, such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, the surname Yearbrough may also be found but at substantially lower numbers.
Despite the differences in spelling, the surname historically alludes to one source - Yarmouth in Norfolk, England. As such, the surname still has a common origin regardless of its different spellings.
Variations of the surname Yearbrough
The surname Yearbrough is a habitational surname derived from the place named Yearborough in Devon, England. It is also known as Yearburgh, Yearbrugh, Yerborrow, Yarborough, Yarbor, Yarbrough, Yarbrow, Yarbur, and Yorboro. The original spelling is thought to come from the Old English words 'ea' meaning 'river' and 'burh' meaning 'an old fortification'.
Variants of the name include Yerberow, Yerbarow, Yearburough, Yearbure, Yearburrow, Eareborough and Eareburgh from the Middle English era. Spellings have changed throughout the centuries and the modern day variations include Yerbarow, Yerburgh, Yearbothway, Yearsbury, Yearbrowe, Yerborough, Yerbalow, Yerbraw, Yerbrow, Yerbrugh, Yarboro, Yarbourough, Yarbra, Yarbro, Yarburrow, Yarborow, and Yarborrough.
The name is seen in many variations throughout the world, particularly in Europe, the United States and Australia. In Australia, the name is often seen spelled as Yerborough or Yearborough.
Other family names that are derived from the same place are Earborough, Earbure, Erbrough, Erburgh, Erburrow, Ereborough, Ereburrow, Erbrugh, Earburge, Earburgh, and Earburrow.
On rare occasions, the surname Yearbrough has also been adapted to form different surnames such as Yerborugh, Yerbourgh, Yarbarough, Yarborogh, and Yarbrough. The pronunciation of the name also varies, with some people saying “year-bruhugh” and some saying “yer-bruhugh.”
Famous people with the name Yearbrough
- Jim Yearbrough, television host
- Coleman Yearbrough, Major League Baseball pitcher
- John Yearbrough, private tutor
- Steve Yearbrough, outdoor hunting and firearms explorer
- Robert Yearbrough, actor and producer
- Johnathan Yearbrough, former mayor of a mid-western township
- Norman Yearbrough, researcher of characters of American literature
- James Yearbrough, engineer and mathematician
- Thomas Yearbrough, professional sculptor
- Richard Yearbrough, former racing horse owner