NameCensus.

UK surname

Yerby

A locative surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "gyr" meaning "muddy" and "by" meaning "farm" or "settlement."

In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Yerby surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 84, ranked #32,726, down from #27,447 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Three Rivers, Westminster and Lewes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yerby is 111 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 90.9%.

1881 census count

44

Ranked #27,447

Modern count

84

2016, ranked #32,726

Peak year

2010

111 bearers

Map years

2

1998 to 2006

Key insights

  • Yerby had 44 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,447 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016, ranked #32,726.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 46 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Yerby surname distribution map

The map shows where the Yerby surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Yerby surname density by area, 2006 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Yerby over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 21 #29,550
1861 historical 46 #28,170
1881 historical 44 #27,447
1891 historical 28 #32,046
1901 historical 33 #30,384
1911 historical 41 #28,802
1997 modern 100 #26,901
1998 modern 105 #26,822
1999 modern 100 #27,757
2000 modern 102 #27,425
2001 modern 99 #27,534
2002 modern 102 #27,596
2003 modern 102 #27,383
2004 modern 101 #27,813
2005 modern 97 #28,485
2006 modern 100 #28,283
2007 modern 100 #28,669
2008 modern 101 #28,825
2009 modern 106 #28,666
2010 modern 111 #28,509
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 87 #32,180
2013 modern 86 #32,557
2014 modern 86 #32,663
2015 modern 80 #33,052
2016 modern 84 #32,726

Geography

Back to top

Where Yerbys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Three Rivers, Westminster, Lewes, Brent and Richmond upon Thames. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Three Rivers 010 Three Rivers
2 Westminster 006 Westminster
3 Lewes 005 Lewes
4 Brent 025 Brent
5 Richmond upon Thames 013 Richmond upon Thames

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Yerby

These lists show first names that appear often with the Yerby surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Yerby

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Yerby, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Yerby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Yerby household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Yerby is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Yerby is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Yerby falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Yerby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Yerby, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Yerby

The surname Yerby has its origins in England, with most historical references pointing towards its roots in the Anglo-Saxon period. The name is believed to have originated as a locational surname, derived from a place name. It is a habitational name, indicating that the original bearers of the surname hailed from a place called Yarborough in Lincolnshire or possibly from a similar-sounding village.

The name Yerby is thought to be derived from the Old English words "eorðe," meaning earth, and "burh," referring to a fortified place or a borough. When combined, these elements suggest a meaning along the lines of "fortified place on the earth" or "earth fort." Such descriptive place names were typical of the Anglo-Saxon time as they helped to identify specific land features or settlements.

One of the earliest references to a variant of the name comes from the Domesday Book of 1086, where various similar names were recorded as part of the Great Survey commissioned by William the Conqueror. For instance, the name "Eurebi" appears in historical documents, showing an early form that likely evolved into various spellings including Yerby over time.

A famous historical figure with this surname is Frank Yerby, an American writer best known for his historical novels. Born in 1916 and passing in 1991, Frank Yerby became the first African-American to become a best-selling author and was notable for works like "The Foxes of Harrow" published in 1946. His success broke ground for many other African-American writers.

Records from the 13th and 14th centuries show the name in various forms as surnames began to stabilize. In the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, the name is recorded as Ierbi, indicating that the spelling was still fluid at this time. This period marked a transitional phase in the standardization of surnames in England.

In the 15th century, records mention Richard Yerby of Lincolnshire, who was documented in the Register of the Freemen of the City of York in 1487. This historical reference also links the surname Yerby to the East Midlands, specifically reaffirming its geographical origins.

Another notable instance involves George Yerby, born in 1647, who was a prominent Welsh landowner. His prominence rose during the Restoration period, a time when many landowners were recorded in various legal documents, highlighting his status within Welsh society.

By the 18th century, the name Yerby had made its way to Colonial America, with Jacob Yerby being a documented resident of Virginia in 1742. His involvement in local governance and commerce is well-recorded, illustrating the movement and establishment of the surname in the New World.

Throughout history, Yerby remains a surname rooted deeply in its Anglo-Saxon origins, showing a fascinating evolution through medieval Britain to modern American presence. Each historical reference solidifies its historical and cultural significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Yerby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Yerby surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Buckinghamshire leads with 19 Yerbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 73.22x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 19 73.22x
Leicestershire 10 21.02x
Hertfordshire 9 30.43x
Middlesex 4 0.93x
Kent 1 0.68x
Sussex 1 1.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chesham in Buckinghamshire leads with 12 Yerbys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1250.00x.

Place Total Index
Chesham 12 1250.00x
Whitwick 9 1500.00x
Chenies 7 11666.67x
Kings Langley 4 1818.18x
Rickmansworth 3 370.37x
Little Stanmore 2 1538.46x
Feltham 1 232.56x
Goring 1 1250.00x
Hugglescote 1 142.86x
Northchurch 1 312.50x
Pinner 1 263.16x
Watford 1 43.67x
West Wickham 1 714.29x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Yerby surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Yerby surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 3
Joseph 3
Charles 2
George 2
James 2
Thomas 2
Eli 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fredrick 1
Leonard 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Yerby households.

FAQ

Yerby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Yerby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Yerby surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Yerby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 84 in 2016. That gives Yerby a modern rank of #32,726.

What does the Yerby surname mean?

A locative surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "gyr" meaning "muddy" and "by" meaning "farm" or "settlement."

What does the Yerby map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Yerby bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.