Surname Yohe - Meaning and Origin
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Yohe: What does the surname Yohe mean?
The last name Yohe is of English and Germanic origin. It is derived from the Old English pre-seventh-century nickname “yoh” meaning "drizzly, wet", which is sometimes spelled "yo". It was likely an occupational name for someone who worked outdoors in eternally damp and dreary conditions. The name could also have been used to denote someone who was quick-footed or light on their feet.
Over time, Yohe evolved into a surname. This first appeared in the eighteenth century in Somerset, England. In Germany, the Yohe spelling is generally spelled Jöh, which is of the same origin. It was also extremely common among immigrant families and their descendants in the United States.
Historically, the name Yohe was most commonly associated with people who were laborers, and worked in fields and served as servants. It was also a common name among military personnel in both Europe and the United States, especially during the Revolutionary War. Yohe is especially associated with Pennsylvania, where it was one of the top twenty last names as of 1920.
The Yohe surname can still be found in the United States today, and many people who bear it proudly recognize their rich ancestry. The current generation of Yohe's can trace their family roots back to England and Germany, and be proud of their long lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisYohe: Where does the name Yohe come from?
Yohe is a surname of German origin, which is common in parts of Bavaria, especially in the south. It is also common in parts of Austria and Switzerland. Outside of Europe, it is more sparsely found, but is generally associated with those of German descent who arrived during the great migration of Germans during the 19th century.
In the US, the highest concentrations of Yohe can be found in Pennsylvania and Ohio, likely stemming from the large number of German immigrants who settled in the Greater Philadelphia area in the mid-1800s. In a study of the 2000 US Census, the majority of the Yohe population was found in Northeastern states, although it can be found all over the country.
Yohe is also present in Canada, particularly in the greater Ontario and Alberta regions. There are also sizable populations of Yohe in Australia, although it is uncertain where they originated from or when they arrived.
Overall, the Yohe surname is a signal of German heritage and is still commonly found in Europe and in areas with historic German-American and German-Canadian immigrant populations.
Variations of the surname Yohe
The surname Yohe is derived from the German surname Jöh, which is a pet form of the personal name Johann, which came from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning “Graced by Yah.” This surname can be found in various spellings and variants throughout many cultures, such as the German, Dutch, and English languages.
In the German language, Yohe is spelled Jöh, Yuehe and Yuh. Yohe in Dutch is spelled Joff, Yoff, Yoffe, and Yoe. In English, the spellingYohe can be found, as can Yoh, Yeh, and Yoe.
Other surnames that trace back to the same origin of Yohe include Oh, Ohl, Uhl, Ochs, Yohann, Joh, Jahn, Yahn, and Johansson.
Yohe is also commonly found in variant surname spellings in many cultures. In German, some variant spellings include Yohann, Yoehn, Yuhen, Yuhn, Yht, Ytha, Ythae, Yohon, and Johan. In Dutch, some variant spellings include Yoohe, Yooche, Iohe, Iohen, Yoho, Yoohen, Ioohn, Yohn, Yohe, Yohane, and Yuhane. In English, variant spellings can include Yoheh, Yohee, Youeh, Youhe, Yohoe, Yoweh, and Yehovah.
Finally, the surname Yohe is also known to surface in some families in combination with others. For example, a combination of Yohe and Uhl can be found as Yohl, Yoehl, Yuhl, Yohel, Yuhl, Yuehl, and Yuhll. Other popular combinations include Yohe and Oh, Yohe and Ochs, and Yohe and Ohl.
Overall, the surname Yohe has many different spellings, variants, and combinations, all originating from the German surname Jöh.
Famous people with the name Yohe
- Chris Yohe: American professional football player
- Jordyn Yohe: American actress and stuntwoman
- John M. Yohe: American politician and Member of the Pennsylvania State House of Representatives
- Brooke Yohe: American film producer
- Sarah Yohe: American beauty pageant titleholder
- Jonathan Yohe: American professional ice hockey player
- Dustin Yohe: American wrestler
- Abraham Yohe: American Amish minister
- Edwin Yohe: American politician
- Richard P. Yohe: American anthropologist and academic