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Yould is an English surname mostly found in Cheshire and Flintshire. Variants of the surname are Youd, Youde and Eaude.
Contents
The earliest record dates from 1427 and in 1562 the name appears in Little Budworth in Cheshire.
Origin
Currently, little is known about the meaning or origin of this unusual and rare surname, it is not listed in any books of British surnames.
This has led to theories of Huguenot, Flemish or Jewish roots which cannot be substantiated.
Viking roots are a more likely possibility as the Wirral peninsula was colonised by Norwegian Vikings from 902 AD onwards and Viking settlements also existed further inland in West Cheshire.
It is hoped that DNA profiling from suitable Yould descendants will prove or disprove this theory.
Early records
The earliest document located so far that mentions Yould or one of its variants are muster rolls of English soldiers serving in France during the Hundred Years' War.
The surname then spread to nearby towns and villages in West Cheshire and Flintshire, becoming relatively numerous in Whitegate, Tarporley, Frodsham, Acton, Gorstage, Weaverham, Hawarden and Chester.
Over 40 variants of the surname were recorded in the 16th and 17th century, examples are:Yewd, Yeud, Yeoud, Yowd, Yeowed, Yowood, Eude, Eaude, Ewd, Hude, Hewde etc.
Today only Youd, Youde, Eaude and Yould are in use.
Distribution
According to the Office for National Statistics some 104 people named Yould lived in England & Wales in 2002, together with 670 Youd, 227 Youde and 11 Eaude.
The Yould surname has spread to many parts of the British Isles and through emigration also to USA and Canada.
Key emigrants of interest to family historians are: