Show ContentsYeamyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Yeamyn was brought to England by the Normans when they conquered the island in 1066. It is a name for a gatekeeper. Further research proved the surname Yeamyn was originally derived from the Old English word geat, meaning gate.

Early Origins of the Yeamyn family

The surname Yeamyn was first found in Dorset where they held a family seat from very ancient times and were Lords of the Manor of Stock Gaylard in that shire. Conjecturally, this family name is descended from William d'Eu who held the manor at the time of the taking of the Domesday Book in 1086 A.D. Count William d'Eu's main holdings were in Wiltshire but it may well be that a junior line of the family became husbandmen to his Dorset holdings.

Early History of the Yeamyn family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Yeamyn research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1578, 1611, 1632, 1641, 1642, 1643, 1674, 1685, 1689, 1690 and 1730 are included under the topic Early Yeamyn History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Yeamyn Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names tend to be marked by an enormous number of spelling variations. This is largely due to the fact that Old and Middle English lacked any spelling rules when Norman French was introduced in the 11th century. The languages of the English courts at that time were French and Latin. These various languages mixed quite freely in the evolving social milieu. The final element of this mix is that medieval scribes spelled words according to their sounds rather than any definite rules, so a name was often spelled in as many different ways as the number of documents it appeared in. The name was spelled Yetman, Yeatman, Yeetman, Yeaman, Yateman, Yatman and others.

Early Notables of the Yeamyn family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Pym Yeatmen of Stock House; Sir John Yeamans, 1st Baronet (1611-1674), an English colonial administrator from Bristol described in his day as "a pirate ashore", Governor of the Province of Carolina; Sir William Yeamans, 2nd Baronet (d. c. 1685); Sir John Yeamans, 3rd Baronet (d. c. 1690); and Sir John Yeamans, 4th Baronet (c. 1689-c. 1730.) Robert Yeamans or Yeomans (d. 1643), was an English Royalist who came of a numerous Bristol family, and was probably nearly related to William Yeamans (1578-1632?), a graduate of Balliol College, Oxford. "Robert was a well-known merchant and...
Another 122 words (9 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Yeamyn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Yeamyn family

Because of the political and religious discontent in England, families began to migrate abroad in enormous numbers. Faced with persecution and starvation at home, the open frontiers and generally less oppressive social environment of the New World seemed tantalizing indeed to many English people. The trip was difficult, and not all made it unscathed, but many of those who did get to Canada and the United States made important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers with Yeamyn name or one of its variants: Robert Yateman settled in Nevis in 1654; William Yateman settled in St. Christopher in 1635; William Yateman settled in Virginia in 1651; Albert and William Yeatman arrived in Pennsylvania in 1868. In Newfoundland Thomas Yeatman settled in Conception Bay in 1750.



The Yeamyn Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Propositi tenax
Motto Translation: Tenacious of my resolve.


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