Yuen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

Etymology of Yuen

What does the name Yuen mean?

The Yuen family history stretches back to the clans of the Dalriadan kingdom on the sea-swept Hebrides islands and mountainous western coast of Scotland. The name Yuen is derived from the personal name Ewen. The Gaelic form of the name was Mac Eoghainn.

Early Origins of the Yuen family

The surname Yuen was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where they were first found in the barony of Otter, on the shores of Loch Fyne. The eponymous ancestor of the Clan is reputed to be Eoghain na h-Oitrich, also known as 'Ewen of Otter', who lived at the beginning of the 12th century. Clear records of the Clan were found in 1219, when Gilpatrik Mac Ewen measured the borders of his lands in Kynblathmund.

Early History of the Yuen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Yuen research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1174 and 1219 are included under the topic Early Yuen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Yuen Spelling Variations

Medieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. Yuen has been written as MacEwen, MacEwan, MacEwing, MacEuen, MacKewin, MacKewan, MacEòghainn (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the Yuen family

More information is included under the topic Early Yuen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Yuen Ranking

the United States, the name Yuen is the 6,721^st most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Yuen family

The descendants of the Dalriadan families who made the great crossing of the Atlantic still dot communities along the east coast of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many of the settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Clan societies and highland games have allowed Canadian and American families of Scottish descent to recover much of their lost heritage. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that early immigrants bearing the name Yuen or a variant listed above include: Archibald MacEuen settled in New York State with his wife Janet and children in 1739; Merran MacEuen settled in New York in 1739 with his wife and daughter.

Contemporary Notables of the name Yuen (post 1700) +

Lee Yuen Kam (1940-1973), birth name of Bruce Lee, Chinese American martial arts instructor, actor and founder of the Jeet Kune Do martial arts movement
Yuen Cheung (b. 1999), Hong Kong boccia player, silver medalist at the 2024 Paralympics
Yuen Kei Ho (b. 1993), Hong Kong boccia player, gold medalist at the 2024 Paralympics

The Yuen 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: Reviresco
Motto Translation: I grow green

Sources +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/