Surname Yeo - Meaning and Origin

Yeo: What does the surname Yeo mean?

The surname Yeo originates from England and is thought to derive from the Old English personal name 'Eaw'. Derived from an Old English word referencing the type of animal noise made by a donkey or sheep, this personal name would have been popular during the picturesque period of the Middle Ages.

Over time, the word became a popular surname. During the 14th century, widespread changes in language, such as the Great Vowel Shift, caused the spelling of the name to alter slightly. This caused the name to be pronounced as ‘YO’, and eventually the spelling was also adjusted to suit the spoken word. In time, the name Yeo nettled its way into Britain’s surnames, persisting until the present day.

The surname Yeo is now found across Britain. Furthermore, with the position of Great Britain as an imperial power, the Yeo name was likely exported all around the world, particularly in countries such as Canada, the United States, Australia and India. The name may have been adopted by immigrants who had made the move to a new land in search of greater prosperity.

Generally, the name Yeo is thought to be locative in origin: this means that it is associated with a location. Specifically, the name could potentially originate from Yeo, a small village in Devon, or thourgh the Yeo River of Dorset. As such, the name could be associated with a former resident or someone who lived near one of these places.

Yeo: Where does the name Yeo come from?

The last name Yeo is most commonly found in East and Southeast Asian countries including China, Korea, Japan, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam. It has been suggested that the surname may be of Chinese origin, though the exact origin remains unsure.

In China, the name Yeo is found amongst the Han Chinese, who make up the majority of the Chinese population. The name is common in the provinces of Shanghai, Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong, and Hubei.

In Korea, the surname Yeo is predominantly seen in and around the city of Busan. The surname is also fairly common amongst Koreans living abroad, particularly in the United States and Canada.

In Vietnam, the surname is quite widespread throughout the country due to the large Vietnamese diaspora that dates back to the 1950s.

In Singapore, the name Yeo is predominantly associated with the Peranakans, descendants of Chinese immigrants who settled in the area during the 19th and 20th centuries. The surname is also quite commonly found in Malaysia, particularly in the states of Johor and Penang.

Overall, it is evident that the surname Yeo is primarily seen in East and Southeast Asian countries, though it also has a significant presence in many overseas nations.

Variations of the surname Yeo

Yeo is a surname that has many variants and related surnames of the same origin. Some common spelling variants of Yeo include Yoe, Yo, Yoo, Yeho, and Yohe. Depending on the region, other variants can also be found.

The origin of the Yeo surname can be traced back to the Welsh, Cornish, and Anglo-Saxon tribes. It is a topographical name that was derived from the Old English word ‘eoh’, which was used to describe areas of high ground. Additionally, it could have also been derived from a place name.

The surname has many other related surnames, including Yeat, Yeatman, Yeats, Yeoman, and Yeomans. The Yeatman surnames can be traced back to the Middle English word ‘eate’, describing a person who lived near an area of marsh or wet land.

Yeoman is an occupational name derived from the Middle English word ‘yeman’, used to describe a lower ranking member of the aristocracy or a soldier. The Yeomans surname is likely derived from a variant of this surname.

Additionally, Yeo can be anglicised to Yowe and Yew, as a result of local dialects and a nasalization of the pronunciation. Other surnames derived from the same root include Youles, Youlden, Youldon, Yow, Yowles, Youle and Yowles.

Famous people with the name Yeo

• Yeo Jin-goo: He is a South Korean actor who made his debut in the 2003 film Sad Movie.
• Yeo Bee Yin: She is a Malaysian politician who has been actively involved in politics for many years.
• Yeo Woon Soo: She is a Singaporean singer and actress who has made appearances in several television dramas, films, and musicals.
• Yeo Cheow Tong: He is a former Malaysian Minister of Transport and currently serves as the Chairman of YTL Corporation Berhad.
• Yeo Hee-yoon: He is a South Korean actor who made his debut in the film My Sassy Girl in 2001.
• Yeo Cheon-soo: He is a South Korean actor who is best known for appearing in films such as My Love, My Bride in 2014 and Suddenly, Twenty in 2016.
• Yeo Khee Leng: She is a Singaporean former Member of Parliament who also served as the Minister of State for the Ministry of Education from 1996 to 2001.
• Yeo Yak-yong: He is a South Korean actor and singer who is known for his supporting roles in various dramas, such as Who Are You in 2013.
• Yeo Hui Ling: She is a Singaporean singer who rose to fame after winning Sing! China Season 3 in 2018.
• Yeo Jun-suk: He is a South Korean actor best known for his roles in the television dramas My Love from the Star in 2013 and The Suspicious Housekeeper in 2013.

Other surnames

YeomanYeomans