Surname Yearsly - Meaning and Origin

Yearsly: What does the surname Yearsly mean?

The last name Yearsly originated from England and was most likely derived from an Old English name. It is often thought to be a combination of "year" and "leah", meaning "yearly clearing". Yearsley is an occupational surname, which denotes a person that worked in a yearly clearing or left an area at the end of a year. The Yearsley family was likely responsible for moving crops and animals from one place to another according to the changing of seasons. In many cases they operated as a mobile workforce and dealt with hay, wool, and other farm goods. It was a difficult, but necessary, trade in the Elizabethan era.

The Yearsley name is found across the British Isles, through Ireland, and across North America. It is one of the oldest surnames still in use today. Although the Yearsley surname is an old one, its roots remain obscure. We can say with some certainty, however, that it is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and was probably formed between the 8th and 10th centuries C.E.

The current spelling of the name has changed over time, and its ancient form has been lost, however it can still be seen as a powerful and recognizable name across the British Isles today. It is likely that the name was derived from a place or a family of nobles or distinguished individuals. The Yearsley family has made a great contribution to the narrative of the evolution of the English language.

Yearsly: Where does the name Yearsly come from?

The last name Yearsly is a relatively uncommon one and it is not found concentrated in any particular area or region. However, over the years it has spread throughout the United States and to other countries which suggests that numerous branches of the same family have moved away from their original homelands. As of the most recent census, the last name Yearsly ranks as the 6674th most popular surname in the United States, with an estimated 8,500 people carrying the name.

The largest concentration of Yearslys is found around the Ohio River Valley, with states like Indiana, Ohio, and West Virginia having the most people who share this last name. Furthermore, Pennsylvania and New York each have reasonably large populations of Yearslys.

Outside of the U.S., the last name is also popular in countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia, which is in line with the ancestry of many Yearsly families. Canada in particular has the largest number of yearslys outside the United States, with an estimated 500 people spread throughout the country.

Overall, Yearsly is not a widely common last name, but with its dispersal throughout the United States and other countries with largely English-speaking populations, there is a good chance it can be found in many corners of the world.

Variations of the surname Yearsly

Yes, the Yearsly surname has a few variant spellings and surnames of the same origin. The variants may vary based on geographical location and language.

The primary variant being Yerkesly, derived from the Olde English unique name "Earc".

Yerkesly is believed to have originated in West Yorkshire, and the Olde English form denotes it as a placename, given to people from the manor belonging to an Earl. The modern variation occurring in names such as Yerks, Yerkie, Yer Today, Yerksson, Jerks, Jerksley, Jircks, Yarko, and Yeroux.

Another variant of Yearsly is Yerlesly. This is believed to have originated from the Olde French term "L'Earl", which is a combination of "L'Era" meaning spring and "Lia" meaning a clearing. In this instance, it denoted the people that lived on or around the Earl's land. Some of the surnames that are derived from this are Yerles, Yerol, Yerden, Yerls, Yerlie, and Yerle.

Yet another variant is Yerclesly, which may be a combination of both the aforementioned variants being Yerkesly and Yerlesly. The origin is still unclear and no common surnames derived from this variant have been discovered yet.

In conclusion, the primary variant of the Yearsly surname is Yerkesly, with some other variants being Yerclesly, Yerlesly and possibly other forms, although the origin is still uncertain. Furthermore, some common surnames that are based on the variants Yerkesly and Yerlesly have been identified.

Famous people with the name Yearsly

• Trace Yearsly: Actor, best known for his role as Alexander Jameson on the ABC sitcom The Real O'Neals.
• Taylor Yearsley: Biracialchild actress best known for her role as Mia Hall on the MTV film adaptation of the novel If I Stay.
• Pat Yearsley: Singer-songwriter, guitarist, and pianist. Was a member of the band The Fixx.
• Jody Yearsley: Country music singer who has had top 20 hits on the Billboard country charts.
• Spencer Yearsley: Actor and theatre producer, known for his work on the musical comedy High Fidelity.
• Anna Yearsley: Poet, author, and feminist who wrote extensively about the domestic lives of women in the 18th and 19th centuries.
• Jess Yearsley: Professional golfer who won the 2017 Symetra Tour Championship.
• Kacie Yearsley: Voice actress who voiced characters in the animated films Ice Age 2: The Meltdown and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.
• Peter Yearsley: British actor known for his roles in British television shows such as Grange Hill and EastEnders
• Diana Yearsley: Actress best known for her role in the 2010 film Potiche.

Other surnames

YearseyYearsleiYearsley