Show ContentsYeo History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Yeo surname comes from the Old English word "ea," or "yo," in Somerset and Devon dialects, which meant "river" or "stream." It was likely originally a topographic name for someone who lived near a stream.

Early Origins of the Yeo family

The surname Yeo was first found in Devon where they held a family seat from very ancient times, at Hempton Sachville. "Tre-Yeo [in the parish of Launcells, Cornwall] was an ancient seat belonging to the family of Yeo." [1]

Early History of the Yeo family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Yeo research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the year 1120 is included under the topic Early Yeo History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Yeo Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Yeo, Yeoh, Yea, Yeoman, Attyea and others.

Early Notables of the Yeo family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Galfreda de la Yeo of Devon


United States Yeo migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Yeo Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Alan Yeo, who settled in Salem Massachusetts in 1630
  • John Yeo, who landed in Virginia in 1637 [2]
  • Leonard Yeo, who arrived in Virginia in 1637 [2]
  • William Yeo, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 [2]
  • Mrs. Clare Yeo, who landed in Virginia in 1652 [2]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Yeo Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • George Yeo, who arrived in Virginia in 1743 [2]
Yeo Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Richard Yeo, aged 34, who arrived in New York in 1812 [2]
  • Mr. Charles Yeo, (b. 1813), aged 27, English labourer departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 [3]
  • Mrs. Mary Yeo, (b. 1815), aged 25, English settler departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 [3]
  • Miss Elizabeth Yeo, (b. 1835), aged 5, English settler departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 [3]
  • Mr. Charles Yeo, (b. 1837), aged 3, English settler departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 [3]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Yeo migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Yeo Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Australia Yeo migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Yeo Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Richard Yeo, (b. 1822), aged 22 born in St Stephen’s, Cornwall, UK convicted in Bodmin on 2nd January 1844, sentenced for 10 years for housebreaking, transported aboard the ship "Theresa" in 1845 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia [5]
  • Mr. Richard Yeo, (b. 1822), aged 22, Cornish settler convicted in Bodmin, Cornwall, UK on 2nd January 1844, sentenced for 10 years for housebreaking and stealing money, transported aboard the ship "Theresa" on 28th March 1845 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia [6]
  • Isaac Yeo, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Theresa" in 1847 [7]
  • John Stevens Yeo, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Theresa" in 1847 [7]
  • Mary Yeo, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Theresa" in 1847 [7]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Yeo migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Yeo Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Yeo, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Brazil Packet" arriving in New Zealand in 1833 [8]
  • Laura Yeo, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Owen Glendowner" in 1864

Contemporary Notables of the name Yeo (post 1700) +

  • Douglas Yeo, American classical trombonist at the Boston Symphony Orchestra
  • William T. Yeo (1869-1959), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Iosco District, 1909-12 [9]
  • Barbara C. Yeo, American politician, Mayor of Manhattan, Kansas, 1969-70 [9]
  • Brian George Yeo (b. 1944), former English football striker
  • Simon John Yeo (b. 1973), former English footballer
  • Commodore James Lucas Yeo (1782-1818), British Navel commander born at Southampton on 7 Oct. 1782, served in the War of 1812, son of James Yeo, formerly agent victualler at Minorca [10]
  • Dylan Yeo (b. 1986), Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan
  • Alfred William Yeo (1890-1976), Australian politician, Member for Castlereagh (1932-1941)
  • Michael "Mike" Yeo (b. 1973), Canadian current head coach of the NHL ice hockey Minnesota Wild
  • Jonathan Yeo (b. 1970), British portrait artist who has painted Nicole Kidman, Dennis Hopper, Prince Philip, Erin O'Connor, Tony Blair, David Cameron and many more
  • ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

SS Southern Cross
  • Mr. Lawrence Yeo (1892-1914), Newfoundlander from St. John's who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found


  1. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  2. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  3. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  4. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  5. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/tasmanian_convicts_cornish.pdf
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  7. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THERESA 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847Theresa.htm
  8. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  10. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 20 Feb. 2019


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