Surname Yeats - Meaning and Origin

Yeats: What does the surname Yeats mean?

The last name Yeats is derived from the old Irish surname, Mac Ioddha, which is believed to have originated from the sept Mac Ciotach of the Corca Baiscinn people of western County Clare, Ireland. The Yeats surname is closely associated with the great Irish literary family of Yeats, which was founded by the writer and playwright, William Butler Yeats.

The family name is thought to derive from the Gaelic phrase "yeat", which translates to "wood" or "forest". This suggests a potential occupational origin for the name, as it could be referring to an ancestor who was a forester or may have worked in lumber mills. It could also refer to someone who lived in a wooded area, as the term may have been an ancient way of referring to a place.

Yeats has become increasingly popular throughout the world and now appears as a surname across Asia, Europe, North America, and Oceania. The name is still found most commonly in Ireland, however, where it is often recognized as a symbol of and reminder of the country’s rich heritage of literature, music, and art.

Yeats: Where does the name Yeats come from?

Yeats is a popular surname in Ireland today, particularly in the province of Connacht. The last name is the anglicised version of the Irish name Mac Lodge, which has been connected to the Yeats family since the 15th century. The Yeats family is believed to have descended from one of the Tribes of Galway and has been influential in both political and literary circles in Ireland for centuries.

In modern times, Yeats is mainly found in County Galway, which is where the original Yeats family was based. There are also many Yeats-named locations in the country. These include Yeats county, which is found in the Connacht province, and Yeats Country in North County Dublin, the ancestral home of the Mac Lodge Yeats family.

There are also many Yeats families found in other areas of Ireland, including Belfast, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, and Wexford. Outside of Ireland, the last name Yeats can be found in the United Kingdom, particularly in England, and also in the United States, where it is found mainly in New York City and the surrounding area.

Despite its Irish roots, the last name of Yeats is now found all around the world, a testament to the legacy of the Yeats family and its influence as one of the most famous and important Irish families of all time.

Variations of the surname Yeats

The surname Yeats is an anglicized form of the Irish surname Ó hÍceadha. Variant spellings of this name include Ó hÍceadha, Ó hAodha, Ó hÉiceadha, and Ó hEodha, as well as Mac Íceadha. Common surnames of similar origin include MacKeogh, MacAodh, McCay, McKeague, MacKee, MacKeogh, MacKeegan, MacEochagáin, McKean, O'Eaddy, McAuley, Eochaidh, and Hickey.

The surname Yeats has been popularized by several famous writers and poets, including the Irishman William Butler Yeats. Other notable people who have used the surname Yeats include the actors and models Jamie Yeats, Bridget Yeats, and Miyako Yeats.

The Yeats surname has also been Anglicized to the surnames Yates, Yate, and Yeates. The names Yeatman, Yeetman, Yeett, and Yeaten are related, and can also be found in some instances.

In the United States, Yeats is usually found as a variant spelling of Yates, or as a direct importation from Ireland. Other variants seen in the United States include Yaits, Yait, Yayts, and Yeet.

Famous people with the name Yeats

• William Butler Yeats (1865–1939): Irish poet and dramatist, who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1923.
• Jack Yeats (1871–1957): Irish painter, writer, and Olympic medalist.
• John Butler Yeats (1839–1922): Irish artist and the father of "The poet, William Butler Yeats".
• Susan Mary Yeats (1885-1968): Sister of Jack and William Butler Yeats, she founded Cuala Industries to nurture and develop traditional craftwork.
• Michael Yeats (1921–2007): Irish politician from County Sligo, the third son of William Butler Yeats.
• Mary Butler Yeats (1868–1949): British author, Mary was the sister of William Butler Yeats.
• Lolly Yeats (1942-2012): Irish folk and traditional singer, she was the daughter of Jack Yeats.
• Anne Yeats (1919–2001): Irish poet and artist, Anne was the younger sister of William Butler Yeats.
• Sarah Yeats (1893-1989): Irish painter, she was the youngest child of William Butler Yeats.
• George Yeats (1892–1968): Irish poet, playwright, and literary critic; he was the second son of William Butler Yeats.

Other surnames

Yeates