Surname Yarboarough - Meaning and Origin
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Yarboarough: What does the surname Yarboarough mean?
The last name Yarborough is of old English origin. It is derived from the phrase "gerefa Byrig," which literally translates to “steward of the town or manor.” The surname is derived from the French words gerer (to manage) and bourg (town) and dates back to the 15th century where it was originally used to distinguish someone from a particular area. The Yarborough name appears in medieval records as early as 1381.
The name Yarborough evolved into a aristocratic ranking amongst the English and American nobility. The majority of American Yarboroughs can trace their roots back to a single ancestor, Francis Yarborough, who moved to Virginia in 1635. By 1883, 19 members of the Yarborough family held titles of nobility and aristocrats. The most famous of them was perhaps General Bryan Gray Yarborough, a leading Confederate general in the American Civil War who later served in the Texas State Senate.
Today, Yarborough remains primarily a Southern United States surname. It is most common in Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas, however, it can still be found in smaller numbers throughout the United States. Whether it be the memories of an old English steward or the history of a noble family, The last name Yarborough carries a rich and diverse history with it.
Order DNA origin analysisYarboarough: Where does the name Yarboarough come from?
The last name Yarborough is primarily found in parts of the United States and its neighboring countries. It's most closely associated with Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Arkansas. It may also be found in pockets in other parts of North America such as Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and the Carolinas.
Immigrants from the British Isles brought the name to the United States in the 1700s. As settlers moved westwards, the name spread to other states, often being changed from variants such as Yarboro and Yarborogh, Yorboe, and polluting it with other similar names like Yarborough/Yarborough/Yarbrough/Yarboro.
The name may also have been brought to the US from the Caribbean and South America, where it is believed to originate from a French version of the name Arbour or Harbour. The name is frequently found in small pockets throughout Latin America, particularly in Caribbean Islands such as Cuba, El Salvador, and Ecuador.
The popularity of the name is difficult to measure, but it remains an easily recognizable name wherever it is found. Even today, the name is most commonly associated with Texas and other Southern states, signifying a family with a strong sense of place and history.
Variations of the surname Yarboarough
Yarbrough is a surname derived from the Old English words yar, meaning ‘yew-tree’, and burg, meaning ‘fortified settlement’. It is believed to have been first found in Warwickshire, England.
Yarbrough is the most common spelling of the surname, but there are a few variants that have been used in the past. These include Yarborough, Yarboro, Yarborow, Yarborough, Yarborowgh, Yarbarough, Yarboroughs and Yarbourough.
In addition to these spellings, there are a few variations of the surname in other languages. For example, Ybarra (Spanish), Yarbru (French), Iarburu (Basque), Aphaber (Armenian), Ibray (Arabic), Jarbourek (Czech) and Jarborek (Polish).
There are also a few surnames derived from other sources that are believed to be related to the Yarbrough surname, such as Harbrough, Harbour and Harbarrow.
As a result of the many variants of the surname, its origins are difficult to determine definitively. It is possible that it may have originated from multiple sources, or that some families simply altered the spelling of the name to make it more ‘unique’.
Famous people with the name Yarboarough
- Patrick Yarborough, a professional golfer and winner of the 2006 Zurich Classic of New Orleans.
- J.J. Yarborough, a professional mixed martial artist and amateur wrestler.
- Cedric Yarborough, a professional basketball player, who played in the NBA for four years.
- Josh Yarborough, an American professional basketball player for the National Basketball Association's Toronto Raptors.
- James Yarborough, an American television and movie writer best known as the writer of "The Brady Bunch".
- Michele Yarborough, an American professional lawn bowler who competed in the 2002 World Singles Champion and the 2003 Commonwealth Games.
- Naomi Yarborough, an American sculptor and goldsmith specializing in artistic beadwork.
- Derrick Yarborough, an American actor who starred in Black Saturday and the 2016 film Hell or High Water.
- Kim Yarborough, a former Miss America nominee and the St. Johns County Teacher of the Year in 2014.
- Bonnie Yarborough, an American singer-songwriter and philanthropist.