NameCensus.

UK surname

Yule

A surname from the medieval English word "yuol", meaning "Christmas" or winter festival.

In the 1881 census there were 1,511 people recorded with the Yule surname, ranking it #2,779 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,314, ranked #2,814, down from #2,779 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, Hawick Central and Culter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Yule is 2,323 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.1%.

1881 census count

1,511

Ranked #2,779

Modern count

2,314

2016, ranked #2,814

Peak year

2010

2,323 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Yule had 1,511 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,779 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,314 in 2016, ranked #2,814.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,890 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Yule surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Yule surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Yule 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 1,001 #2,794
1861 historical 976 #2,850
1881 historical 1,511 #2,779
1891 historical 1,628 #2,749
1901 historical 1,890 #2,793
1911 historical 499 #7,846
1997 modern 2,224 #2,794
1998 modern 2,298 #2,814
1999 modern 2,263 #2,862
2000 modern 2,293 #2,814
2001 modern 2,204 #2,866
2002 modern 2,285 #2,828
2003 modern 2,197 #2,864
2004 modern 2,196 #2,870
2005 modern 2,197 #2,844
2006 modern 2,221 #2,811
2007 modern 2,240 #2,810
2008 modern 2,250 #2,823
2009 modern 2,317 #2,819
2010 modern 2,323 #2,868
2011 modern 2,270 #2,894
2012 modern 2,259 #2,852
2013 modern 2,264 #2,892
2014 modern 2,292 #2,882
2015 modern 2,301 #2,837
2016 modern 2,314 #2,814

Geography

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Where Yules are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Glasgow and Aberdeen and Old Machar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, Hawick Central, Culter, Kirriemuir Landward and Derby. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Aberdeen and Old Machar Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 001 Northumberland
2 Hawick Central Scottish Borders
3 Culter Aberdeen City
4 Kirriemuir Landward Angus
5 Derby 006 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Yule

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Yule

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Yule, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Yule surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Yule household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Yule is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Yule is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Yule falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Yule is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Yule

The surname Yule has its origins in Scotland, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "geol" or the Old Norse "jol," both of which refer to the midwinter festival known as Yule or Christmas. This indicates that the name was likely given to families who held significant roles or had associations with the midwinter festivals.

The surname Yule can be traced back to the areas of Aberdeenshire and Fifeshire in Scotland. Early references to the name Yule appear in various historical records. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname is found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where a Walter Yule of Linlithgow pledged allegiance to King Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

Historical documents show variations of the surname, such as Youle and Youll, indicating the fluid nature of spelling in medieval times. In 1509, a William Yule is recorded in the Privy Council Register of Scotland, highlighting the establishment of the Yule family within Scottish society by the early 16th century.

The Yule surname also appears in connection with land ownership and management in Scotland. John Yule, born in 1812, is a notable figure, remembered for his contributions to botany as a well-respected botanist in Edinburgh. His works were foundational in the field, increasing the name's prominence in academic circles.

Another significant historical figure is Henry Yule, born in 1820 and deceased in 1889. He was a distinguished Scottish Orientalist and geographer who co-authored the celebrated "Hobson-Jobson" dictionary, a lexicon of Anglo-Indian words and terms, cementing his legacy within linguistic and colonial studies.

By the 19th century, the surname Yule had spread beyond Scotland, partly due to the movement of people during the Industrial Revolution. Charles Yule, an influential figure born in 1842, became known in the field of engineering in Australia, contributing to various public works and infrastructural projects.

In the realm of literature, George Yule, born in 1872, left his mark as a well-regarded author and teacher. His writings expanded the use of the name into the cultural and educational landscapes of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Throughout history, the surname Yule embodies a rich tapestry of cultural, academic, and societal contributions, deeply rooted in its Scottish origins and extending its influence through notable individuals across various fields.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Yule families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Yule 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 326 Yules recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.06x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 326 24.06x
Angus 206 15.20x
Midlothian 153 7.81x
Lanarkshire 111 2.35x
Berwickshire 90 50.79x
Fife 61 7.04x
Middlesex 60 0.41x
Kent 51 1.02x
Roxburghshire 49 18.49x
Perthshire 38 5.79x
Selkirkshire 35 26.44x
Lancashire 31 0.18x
Durham 29 0.67x
Northumberland 29 1.33x
Yorkshire 27 0.19x
East Lothian 24 12.38x
Stirlingshire 21 3.89x
Lincolnshire 16 0.68x
Ayrshire 14 1.28x
Kinross-shire 14 37.85x
Surrey 14 0.20x
Devon 12 0.39x
Banffshire 10 3.29x
Wiltshire 9 0.70x
Kincardineshire 6 3.37x
Peeblesshire 6 8.72x
Renfrewshire 6 0.53x
Suffolk 6 0.34x
Norfolk 5 0.22x
Cheshire 4 0.12x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 1.89x
Nairnshire 4 8.96x
Sussex 4 0.16x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.76x
Orkney 3 1.86x
Oxfordshire 3 0.33x
Ross-shire 3 0.75x
Clackmannanshire 2 1.66x
Cornwall 2 0.12x
Hertfordshire 2 0.20x
Essex 1 0.03x
Glamorgan 1 0.04x
Morayshire 1 0.44x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.05x
Shetland 1 0.67x
West Lothian 1 0.45x
Wigtownshire 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Dundee in Angus leads with 89 Yules recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.59x.

Place Total Index
Dundee 89 17.59x
Liff Benvie 72 34.99x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 69 8.75x
Aberdeen Old Machar 50 17.67x
Peterhead 46 64.19x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 37 14.59x
Govan 23 1.97x
Fraserburgh 21 55.05x
Kirkcaldy 19 44.23x
Huntly 18 81.63x
Edinburgh St Marys 17 44.61x
Newhills 16 57.66x
Galashiels 15 30.65x
Hamilton 15 11.37x
Melrose 15 45.02x
Old Deer 15 58.41x
St Ninians 15 28.04x
Foveran 14 136.45x
Arbroath 13 28.94x
Barony 13 1.09x
Jedburgh 13 50.04x
Monkwearmouth Shore 13 15.30x
Tweedmouth 13 47.90x
Crimond 12 287.77x
Legerwood 12 430.11x
Glasgow 11 1.31x
Gordon 11 262.53x
North Leith 11 12.13x
South Leith 11 4.99x
Tarves 11 85.80x
Lochee 10 82.71x
Longforgan 10 107.64x
Longside 10 61.80x
Milton In Gravesend 10 13.36x
Nenthorn 10 436.68x
St Vigeans 10 13.67x
Coldstream 9 70.20x
Drumoak 9 193.13x
Dunse 9 53.57x
Edinburgh Canongate 9 18.04x
Haddington 9 31.46x
Islington London 9 0.63x
Lewisham 9 3.38x
Richmond 9 39.74x
Shettleston 9 21.24x
St Andrews 9 22.84x
St Fergus 9 117.34x
St Marylebone London 9 1.15x
St Peterin Eastgate 9 124.31x
Swindon 9 8.97x
Woolwich 9 4.88x
Abbotshall 8 24.71x
Bradford 8 423.28x
Cruden 8 45.85x
Edinburgh Greenside 8 30.89x
Edinburgh Greenside S 8 112.52x
Gillingham 8 7.77x
Gorbals 8 28.48x
Hammersmith London 8 2.22x
Kensington London 8 0.98x
Kincardine 8 118.17x
Poplar London 8 2.90x
Scarborough 8 6.07x
Smailholm 8 358.74x
Westruther 8 236.69x
Cadder 7 20.03x
Cockburnspath 7 123.67x
Errol 7 57.52x
Melrose 7 30.55x
Carluke 6 13.96x
Dalziel 6 11.79x
Dundonald 6 14.86x
Elswick 6 3.45x
Kinross 6 47.32x
Markinch 6 20.40x
Ormiston 6 116.73x
Orwell 6 58.82x
Peebles 6 29.50x
Perth East Church 6 9.69x
Udny 6 73.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Margaret 12
Ellen 8
Annie 7
Elizabeth 7
Jane 6
Sarah 6
Ann 5
Fanny 4
Isabella 4
Susan 4
Catherine 3
Eliza 3
Emily 3
Henrietta 3
Jessie 3
Anne 2
Edith 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
H. 2
Harriett 2
Janet 2
Lucy 2
Mabel 2
Margt. 2
Robina 2
Rose 2
Alice 1
Amy 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Elisabeth 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Emeline 1
Esther 1
Flora 1
Grace 1
Graham 1
Hannah 1
Ida 1
Lillian 1
Louisa 1
M.J.B. 1
Mar 1
Marian 1
Martha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 23
William 19
James 13
Robert 11
Alexander 9
George 8
Andrew 6
Thomas 6
Henry 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
David 3
Peter 3
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Joseph 2
Samuel 2
Abraham 1
Adam 1
Albert 1
Alexandr 1
Alexr. 1
Austen 1
Benjamin 1
Bransby 1
C.B.B. 1
C.J.F. 1
Chas. 1
Frederick 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Innes 1
J.C.D. 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Rt. 1
Jno.A.C. 1
Matthew 1
Richard 1
Robt. 1
Ronald 1
Theodore 1
Thos.Geo. 1
Tom 1
Wm.David 1

FAQ

Yule surname: questions and answers

How common was the Yule surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,511 people were recorded with the Yule surname. That placed it at #2,779 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Yule surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,314 in 2016. That gives Yule a modern rank of #2,814.

What does the Yule surname mean?

A surname from the medieval English word "yuol", meaning "Christmas" or winter festival.

What does the Yule map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Yule 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.