Surname Yearslei - Meaning and Origin

Yearslei: What does the surname Yearslei mean?

The last name Yearslei is thought to be of Germanic origin and is a fairly rare name. It is derived from the German word jahr, meaning 'year', and the Old Norse suffix slei, meaning 'clearing' or 'field', making the literal translation of Yearslei as 'year's clearing/field'. The surname is believed to have been given to those families who moved to a new land each year, or those who colonised new fields each year for farming.

Yearslei is also thought to have been given to those families who established a local market on a yearly basis, or who supervised a fair or a market on a yearly basis. This could explain why the surname is so rare, as it is thought that the profession was eventually phased out.

The surname Yearslei is thought to have been present in Germany since before the 17th century, however it is thought to have died out in Germany by the 18th century. However, it has since spread across the world, to both the UK and the US, where it is still present in some areas.

Therefore, the last name Yearslei could refer to a family that moved from place to place, colonising the land or supervising local events. It is a rare last name, most likely due to its original profession being phased out. It is widespread in some parts of the world, and is thought to have been present since at least the 17th century.

Yearslei: Where does the name Yearslei come from?

The last name Yearslei is a relatively uncommon last name, being a rare variant of the more common last names Yersley or Yersel. However, it appears to be primarily confined to the United Kingdom, with the vast majority of past and present bearers being recorded in the British Isles.

According to the Surname Atlas, Yearslei is recorded in 6 counties within England and Wales, which are Bedfordshire, Essex, Kent, Lancashire, Oxfordshire, and Surrey. When looking at the global impact map, a few bearers of the surname are also shown in other countries such as France, Australia, and the United States.

It is believed that the name is a nickname for a person who lived close to Yersley Mill, located in the Lancashire village of Yersley, near Bolton. Alternately, the name could even be derived from the Old English personal name 'Eorslēa', which is composed of the elements 'eoh' (horse) and 'slēah' (clearing, meadow).

The Yersley or Yearslei surname is most likely a religious surname, as its main areas of residence are close to known centres of Presbyterianism. In its current form, the surname Yearslei appears to mainly reside and spread through the south and southeastern England, with the occasional outlier being found in other countries.

Variations of the surname Yearslei

The surname Yearslei has many variants and spellings, such as Yearslei, Yearsley, Yersley, and Yersel. These variants have been found in many countries around the world, from England to Ireland to Germany to Scotland. This wide variation in spelling indicates that the name has been in existence for many centuries.

The origin of the name Yearslei is likely derived from Old English. One of its possible origins could be the name of an old village called West Yeersley in Northumberland in England. Another origin of the name is possibly derived from the Old English word eor, meaning ‘an acre’, and leah meaning ‘a wood or clearing’, thus making Yearslei a topographical name for ‘a dweller near a wood’ or ‘those who live on an acre’.

Variants of Yearslei are popular also throughout Ireland. There, the name is commonly seen as Yersel, which is derived from the Gaelic term O'hIarla which means ‘upland’ or ‘hilly area’.

Variants of the surname Yearslei are common in Germany, too, with records showing spellings that include Yerselle, Yersel, Yersilla, and Yersle.

The surname Yearslei also has many variations in Scotland, such as Yersely, Yeirsley, Yearseley, Yearslay, Yirsley, and Yersly. These spellings further suggest that the name has been in existence for centuries and that its use was widespread across Europe and the British Isles.

Overall, given its variations in spellings and countries of origin, the surname Yearslei undoubtedly has a long and fascinating history.

Famous people with the name Yearslei

• David Yearsley: American academic, lutenist and writer
• David E. Yearsley: American radiology specialist
• Negesti Kauda Yearslei: Eritrean actor and singer
• Lyla Yearslei: Brazilian model
• Steve Yearslei: Irish musician
• Steffon Yearslei: American director
• Blaise Yearslei: French chemical engineer
• Gionanni Yearslei: Italian soccer player
• Pernise Yearslei: French-Italian novelist
• Bienvenido Yearslei: Peruvian journalist

Other surnames

YearsleyYearsly