Surname York - Meaning and Origin
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The unveiling of York: Unraveling my Ancestral Origins with iGENEA
By undergoing DNA testing at iGENEA, I was able to uncover surprising familial connections and gain a broader understanding of my ancestry, specifically my York lineage. The experience significantly expanded my self-perception and deepened my connection to my roots.
L. York
read moreYork: What does the surname York mean?
The last name York is an English/Scottish topographic surname Meaning “of the yew tree”. It’s unique as a surname in that it comes from an individual or family who lived in a place associated with the yew tree - likely either their home or the village in which they lived. The yew tree was held in reverence by many ancient civilisations, for its medicinal and often spiritual properties.
In Scotland, the area known as ‘York Woods’, near the city of Stirling, was much admired for its yew trees, which led to the name York becoming associated with the area. York is also used as a nickname for people named Yorke, or a variation of George. This could have been because it sounded more euphonious than the original name.
Many people of the York surname were known to be successful merchants, landowners and fighters in medieval Scotland. Today, the average York family is known for ambition, intelligence, and an adventurous spirit. From the merchants who created businesses by trading far and wide, to the soldiers of the earlier years, the York family has a long and proud heritage of being innovators and forward thinkers.
In modern times, the surname York usually refers to people who originate from various British Isles locations, although the name can also be found in other parts of the world. York is a strong-sounding name, with its ancient roots harkening back to thousands of years of overlooking yew forests.
Order DNA origin analysisYork: Where does the name York come from?
The last name York is today most commonly found throughout the United States with concentrations in the East Coast and Midwest. In many cases, the York surname is seen in connection with the city of York, Pennsylvania, a common destination for immigrants to the US coming via the ports of Philadelphia.
The York surname is also found scattered around the UK, and is one of the most common surnames in England.
In Ireland, it is thought that families with the last name York were originally Anglo-Norman settlers, although some believe it could be of Scots-Irish origin.
In Scotland, it is thought that the name York originated as a place name from the various places named York in the country. Today, the name is scattered around but is mostly found in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
In Australia, the York surname is most commonly found in Victoria, with smaller concentrations in New South Wales. In all cases, most of these bearers of the name are descended from English or Irish settlers who arrived in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Elsewhere in the world, the York surname can be found, although it typically would have made its way to places like Canada, the United States and other parts of the Anglosphere through immigration by the same families originally mentioned.
Variations of the surname York
The surname York has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common spellings and surnames include Yark, Jorck, Yorkes, Yorcke, Yorke, Yurke, Yurck, Yurk, Yorck, Yorke, Yorkie, Yerg, Yearg, Yerke, Yerge, Yerck and Yercke.
The surname has its origin in England and Scotland, and it is derived from two different sources. The first source is from Old English and Danish, and the name is derived from the pre-seventh century personal name from “Eoric,” which means well-blessed spear. The second source is from an Old English locational name derived from the word for the York region.
In Scotland, the surname can be derived from an Anglicisation of the Gaelic MacGille Eathain, meaning "son of the servant of Saint Audrey." The Gaelic version of this surname is MacEachern, which can also be Anglicized as Yark or Yurk.
People with the York surname were some of the first European settlers in the new world. They immigrated to the United States, Canada and Australia during the early colonial era.
Many individuals have Anglicised the York spelling in order to differentiate from the original spelling. Variants include Jork, Jorch and Yurch. Additionally, the York surname appears in other countries such as Germany, Spain and the Netherlands. Variants of the name there include Jork, Jürg, and Jürmann.
Famous people with the name York
- Fred York: American actor and singer, was known for his role in the Disney television show "The Lizzie McGuire Show"
- Lisa York: Canadian actress and writer, known for her roles in tv shows such as “The War at Home” and “Will & Grace”.
- Richard York: American actor who starred in films like “The Omega Man” and “Planet of the Apes”
- Edward York: British actor, who has appeared in films such as “Black Hawk Down” and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1”.
- Jacinda York: Australian singer and songwriter, who has released popular songs such as “We Don’t Have To Say Goodbye” and “Feel It Now”
- John York: American multi-instrumentalist, bass player, and singer, who is best known as a member of the band The Byrds
- Gene York: American film, television and theater actor, known for his roles in the films “Grease" and “Animal House”
- Brooke York: Broadway actress, who has appeared in productions such as “Chicago” and “The Wedding Singer”
- Monte York: American bass player, best known as a member of the band Earth, Wind & Fire
- Sarah York: American actress and producer, who has starred in films such as “Coyote Ugly” and “Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story”.