Find out how popular the last name Yeigh is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Yeigh.

Yeigh, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Yeigh surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Yeigh in America

Yeigh is the 139228th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Yeigh surname appeared 120 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Yeigh.

The history of the last name Yeigh

The surname Yeigh traces its origins back to Scotland, with the earliest known records dating from the medieval period, specifically around the 13th century. It is believed to have originated in the regions of Galloway or Ayrshire, where similar sounding surnames and place names were prevalent. The name might be derived from old Celtic or Gaelic words, indicating either a geographical feature or a family occupation.

One potential origin of Yeigh is the Old Breton word "iah," which means "lord" or "leader." Another possibility is it came from the Gaelic word "Oidheadh," meaning "instruct" or "guidance," suggesting a family of educators or leaders. Over time, dialects and regional language evolution could have morphed these words into Yeigh. Documents from the late 1200s to early 1300s sometimes list variations such as "Yeagh" or "Yae."

Historical references to the name have been found in records like the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which was a census of those who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. Historical manuscripts indicate a Rinald Yeigh who was mentioned as holding land in Ayrshire in the early 14th century. This region has many similar names coming from Gaelic origins.

Another early recorded example is James Yeigh, a tenant farmer listed in tax documents from the early 1500s in Lanarkshire. Throughout the 16th and 17th centuries, the name appears in various legal documents concerning land holdings and court cases in Scotland, indicating its persistent presence and possibly growing influence in those areas.

In the 18th century, Thomas Yeigh (1734-1802), a notable minister in Edinburgh, contributed to religious texts and was known for his sermons during times of Scottish religious tumult. His works were influential enough to be mentioned in some ecclesiastical histories of the period.

The 19th century saw the name Yeigh being taken to North America, with Alexander Yeigh (1812-1887) emigrating to Canada. He became known for his involvement in local politics and was a key figure in the community of his settlement in Ontario. Another notable individual was Mary Yeigh (1856-1920), an early advocate for women's suffrage in Canada and a writer who published several articles on social reform.

The surname Yeigh, though not exceedingly common, has a rich history spanning centuries, with its roots deep in the Gaelic-speaking regions of medieval Scotland. The people bearing this name have contributed to various facets of society, from religion and education to politics and social reform, marking their influence throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Yeigh

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Yeigh.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Yeigh was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Yeigh was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Yeigh, please contact us.

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