Surname Yearnsley - Meaning and Origin
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Yearnsley: What does the surname Yearnsley mean?
The last name Yearnsley is derived from Old English and is believed to have originally been Wederne's leah, or “Wederne's wood”. This surname originated in the area of Yorkshire, England and was associated with the ancient family who held a family seat there. The family was known for their loyalty to the crown and they played an active role in the affairs of the region.
The name Yearnsley is believed to have been derived from the Old English word “yearnian” meaning “to wish, to desire, to want eagerly”. The name is also thought to be related to the Gaelic word “eornosta”, meaning “desirable”, “an object of desire”. Thus, the name Yearnsley could be a signification of an ambitious, strong-willed individual.
The name became widespread in the 17th century when the family moved to areas such as Lancashire and Cheshire. The name is associated with both established and modern families. Today, the surname is found in many parts of the United Kingdom, particularly Yorkshire and the surrounding regions.
In summary, the surname Yearnsley is believed to have originally been derived from an Old English word meaning “to wish, to desire, to want eagerly". The name is also thought to be related to a Gaelic word meaning “desirable”. The Yearnsley family is most closely associated with the ancient family of Yorkshire, England and they were known for their loyalty and devotion to the crown. Today, the surname is found in many parts of the United Kingdom.
Order DNA origin analysisYearnsley: Where does the name Yearnsley come from?
The last name Yearnsley is thought to be of Anglo-Saxon origins and originated in the North West of England, in the area of Yorkshire. It is believed that the name may have been derived from the Old English personal name 'Yering', which would then have been joined with 'ley', signifying a clearing in a wood or a meadow, to form the compound surname. It is most likely that the first bearers of the name were a family who owned or lived near such a clearing.
The last name Yearnsley is still present in the same area of Yorkshire today, as well as other parts of the United Kingdom. Additionally, due to migration, it can also be found in regions of the United States, Canada and Australia. However, it is still most commonly located in the North West of England, with a concentration around the traditional town of Settle, in Yorkshire.
The surname is not overly common today, however research indicates that it is still held in good numbers by bearers, with an estimated 2,000 to 5,000 bearers located around the world. Research also indicates that it is most popularly held in Great Britain and is most associated with the region of Yorkshire.
Variations of the surname Yearnsley
Yearnsley is an uncommon surname of English origin. It is believed to have originated from a place name in England, Yarnsley near Bourne in Lincolnshire. The earliest recorded use of the surname dates back to 1296 in Lincolnshire in the Feet of Fines records.
The alternative spellings for the surname Yearnsley include Yarnsley, Yernsley, Yernsly, Earnsley, and Earnsly. In the modern world, its spelling variants are mostly interchangeable as they are phonetically equivalent.
Many current spellings of Yearnsley come from these different spelling variants. Some of these include Yearnley, Ernley, Yernally, Yarnall, Yarnelle, Yarnell, Yernally, Yernell, Earnsle, Earnsleigh, Ernale, and Ernally.
The Earlsley surname is also a variant of Yearnsley. It is believed to have derived from the combination of Yearnsley and the suffix "s-ley", which ≈means clearing in a wood in Old English.
Additionally, the Yearnsley surname is also found in Scotland due to its intermingling with Scottish culture and language. The spelling variant, Yernsley, is believed to be a Scottish version of Yearnsley, and is especially found in the Ayrshire region.
Yearnsley is not a common surname, so there are likely no other variations of this surname outside of those that are already known.
Famous people with the name Yearnsley
- Tom Yearnsley: an English composer, multi-instrumentalist, and artist best known for his alias, Tawiah, and for his production work with a variety of artists including Jessie Ware, Clean Bandit, and Katy B.
- Dr. Mark Yearnsley– a British scientist and Assistant Professor at Queens University Belfast. He is known for his research into the role of the ocean in controlling climate variability.
- Geoffrey Yearnsley: a British collector and philanthropist who has donated artwork and other items to the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, England.
- Gary Yearnsley: a retired English cricket player who played for Worcestershire County Cricket Club in the late 1980s and early 1990s.
- Estelle Yearnsley: a British television producer, known for her work on programs for the BBC and ITV.
- Jane Yearnsley: a British fashion illustrator and artist who has worked with a number of designers and magazines.
- Robert Yearnsley: a retired British Army officer, who served in the Royal Engineers, and also later was a Territorial Army Battalion Commander in North Lancashire.
- Tom Yearnsley: an Australian television director who has worked on several television shows including Neighbours, Home and Away and Winners & Losers.
- Mark Yearnsley: an English writer and actor who wrote for various television programmes, and wrote and starred in the comic book show The Comic Strip Presents…
- Andy Yearnsley: the former Managing Director of Argos Retail, one of Britain's largest retail stores.