Surname Yersely - Meaning and Origin
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Yersely: What does the surname Yersely mean?
The surname Yersely is of German origin, derived from the place name Yerse, which is located in modern-day Baden-Württemberg. The place name itself is believed to have been derived from the German word ‘ersa’ - meaning an area with plentiful water or moist land, and possibly originating from the Middle High German term ‘ersen’ - meaning wetlands or swamp land. The surname Yersely is thought to have been derived from the place name by adding the suffix -ly or -ley meaning ‘one from’ or ‘belonging to’
Yersely families can trace their origins back to the Palatinate region of southwest Germany, and likely arrived in Britain in the 18th century as a result of religious persecution in the area. Some members of the family migrated to other European countries including The Netherlands, France, and Denmark, while others settled in North America, mostly in the early 19th century.
Today, the Yersely surname is most common in the United States, Australia, and Britain, and is still widely found throughout Germany. The Yersely family name and its variations (e.g. Yerseley, Yersley, etc.) have often been associated with prominent individuals, including the British explorers and authors Robert Yersely and his wife Miss J. Robert Yersely, German philosopher and theologian Hermann Yersely, and Canadian medic Eric Yersely.
Ultimately, the last name Yersely has strong German roots and is believed to have been derived from the place name Yerse, assumed to refer to wet or marshy land in southwest Germany. The Yersely surname is today most common in parts of Europe, Britain, and North America.
Order DNA origin analysisYersely: Where does the name Yersely come from?
The last name Yersely is not particularly common today, but its most frequent occurrences are concentrated in the United States. It is most concentrated in Pennsylvania. Yersely is believed to have originated with an immigrant ancestor of German or Swiss descent. The first recorded use of the name was in 1800 in the United States, with the earliest immigrant ancestor recorded to have arrived in Philadelphia in 1733. It is also found in smaller numbers in Canada and Australia. Within the United States, the highest concentrations of Yersely are in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, and New York.
The biggest Yersley family today is located throughout East Central Pennsylvania, in a large radius from the townships of Lower Macungie, Salisbury, Upper Macungie, and Carbon. Within this region, the Yersely name can still be found in prominent numbers. Typical surnames which have derivative origins from Yersely include Arsely, Yursley, and Yershley, which are found more commonly throughout Pennsylvania.
Yersely is more rarely found in other states such as West Virginia, New Jersey, and Virginia. In recent times, the Yersely name has extended beyond the eastern states and the Yersely surname can now be found in other parts of the United States, including the Midwest, the West Coast, and even in Alaska.
Variations of the surname Yersely
The surname Yersely has several variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant of the surname is either Yersely or Yersel. Other variants that have been found include Yersell, Yersley, Yercely, Yursel, Iarsel, Yercelli, and Yersee. All of these surnames are derivatives of the same root name, meaning they have the same origins.
The original Yersely variation can be traced to the 11th century, where it originated as a toponymic name, denoting someone from Yerseley in West Yorkshire, England. The word itself is derived from the Old English “gerece” meaning “thicket.” It was also used as a habitative name to refer to someone who lived near a thicket or brushy area.
The Yersel variation began to show up in more recent records in the 18th century in Ireland, likely stemming from the Yersely surname but altered to reflect the local dialect. Additionally, the Yersell spelling has been found in records dating back to the 17th century in Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland. It originates from a surname derived from the Old English “eald”, or “old,” combined with the Old English “setl”, which was a settlement.
It is likely that the other surnames of Yersely origin are derivatives of the Yersely/Yersel spelling, such as Yersley, Yercely, Yursel, Iarsel, and Yercelli. These spellings could be from slight variations depending on the local dialect or from individuals changing their name to adopt a more unique spelling.
In conclusion, the Yersely surname has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin, including Yersely, Yersel, Yersell, Yersley, Yercely, Yursel, Iarsel, Yercelli, and Yersee. All of these are derivatives of the same root name, and the original spelling can be traced to the 11th century.
Famous people with the name Yersely
- Kyle Yersely: professional ice hockey coach
- Tracy Yersely: professional singer and songwriter
- David Yersely: presidential advisor and spokesman
- Matthew Yersely: collegiate basketball coach
- Christina Yersely: famous television actress
- Adam Yersely: artist and animator
- Thomas Yersely: politician and businessman
- Jessica Yersely: humanitarian and fundraiser
- Anne Yersely: Grammy-nominated artist
- Paul Yersely: Olympic biathlete
- Mark Yersely: NFL player
- John Yersely: NFL player
- Charles Yersely: professional bull rider
- Dan Yersely: professional carpenter
- Sarah Yersely: fashion designer
- Justin Yersely: tennis coach
- Ryan Yersely: theater director
- Jane Yersely: professional photographer
- Lydia Yersely: award-winning blogger
- Christina Yersely: professional dancer and choreographer