Yardley

Meaning

Derived from Old English elements meaning 'yard' or 'enclosure' combined with 'leah' (clearing or meadow).

Etymology

The name combines 'geard' (yard/enclosure) with 'leah' (clearing), creating a topographic descriptor for a clearing near a yard or enclosed area. This place-name became a hereditary surname in medieval England.

About the Yardley Surname

An English topographic surname derived from a place name indicating a clearing or meadow associated with a yard. The name has historical significance in English heraldry and nobility.

Distribution

Found in England and English-speaking countries, with notable concentration in the Midlands.

Notable Bearers

Ralph Yardley, Yardley of Penworthe

People with the Yardley Surname