Yeo is a Chinese, English, and Korean surname.

Origins

As an

English surname English names are names used in, or originating in, England. In England as elsewhere in the English-speaking world, a complete name usually consists of a given name, commonly referred to as a first name, and a (most commonly patrilineal) family ...

, Yeo is a toponymic surname meaning "river", either for people who lived near one of the Rivers Yeo, or any river in general. The word comes from

Old English Old English (, ), or Anglo-Saxon, is the earliest recorded form of the English language, spoken in England and southern and eastern Scotland in the early Middle Ages. It was brought to Great Britain by Anglo-Saxon settlement of Britain, Anglo ...

, via south-western Middle English , , or . Variant spellings include Yoe and Youe. As a

Chinese surname Chinese surnames are used by Han Chinese and Sinicized ethnic groups in China, Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, and among overseas Chinese communities around the world such as Singapore and Malaysia. Written Chinese names begin with surnames, unlike the ...

, Yeo is a spelling of the pronunciation in different varieties of Chinese of a number of distinct surnames, listed below by their pronunciation in Mandarin Chinese: * Yáng (), spelled Yeo or Yeoh based on its Hokkien pronunciation (). * Yáo (), spelled Yeo or Yeoh based on its Hokkien pronunciation () * Ráo () As a Korean surname, the

Revised Romanization of Korean Revised Romanization of Korean () is the official Korean language romanization system in South Korea. It was developed by the National Academy of the Korean Language from 1995 and was released to the public on 7 July 2000 by South Korea's Min ...

(RR) spelling Yeo () could correspond to any of three modern surnames: * (). The largest lineage with this surname is the Hamyang Yeo clan. * (). The largest lineage with this surname is the Uiryeong Yeo clan. * (). Additionally, two historical Korean surnames are also spelled Yeo in Revised Romanization: * () * (), which originated from the Buyeo kingdom

Statistics

Yeo was the 13th-most common Chinese surname in Singapore as of 1997 (ranked by English spelling, rather than by Chinese characters). Roughly 36,600 people, or 1.5% of the Chinese Singaporean population, bore the surname Yeo. The 2000 South Korean census found 23,358 households and 65,196 people with the surnames spelled Yeo in Revised Romanization, divided among 17,498 households and 56,692 people for , 5,741 households and 18,146 people for , and 119 people and 358 households for . According to statistics cited by Patrick Hanks, there were 2,529 people on the island of Great Britain and 20 on the island of Ireland with the surname Yeo as of 2011. In 1881 there had been 1,565 people with the surname in Great Britain, mainly in Devon, while in mid-19th-century Ireland it was found primarily in Dublin and

Kilkenny Kilkenny (). is a city in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is located in the South-East Region and in the province of Leinster. It is built on both banks of the River Nore. The 2016 census gave the total population of Kilkenny as 26,512. Kilken ...

. The

2010 United States Census The United States census of 2010 was the twenty-third United States national census. National Census Day, the reference day used for the census, was April 1, 2010. The census was taken via mail-in citizen self-reporting, with enumerators servin ...

found 2,805 people with the surname Yeo, making it the 11,272nd-most-common name in the country. This represented an increase from 2,194 (12,858th-most-common) in the 2000 Census. In the 2010 Census, about 55% of the bearers of the surname identified as Asian, and four-tenths as White. It was the 871st-most-common surname among respondents to the 2000 Census who identified as Asian.

People

Chinese surnames

Chinese surnames () or (): * Alvin Yeo (; 1962-2022), Singaporean lawyer *

Ben Yeo Ben Yeo Chi Lung () is a Singaporean actor and television host. Career A former model, Yeo was first scouted on ''Snap'', SPH MediaWorks Channel U's talent show. He won the competition and was signed by SPH MediaWorks. When MediaWorks merged M ...

(; born 1978), Singaporean actor * Yeo Bee Yin (; born 1983), Malaysian politician * Yeo Cheow Tong (; born 1947), Singaporean politician *

Danny Yeo Danny Yeo (born 1972 or 1973) is a Singaporean host, theatre director, writer and lecturer. He has over a decade of experience in hosting TV, as well as being a former radio DJ, and writing books regarding topics such as culture, youth and p ...

(; ), Singaporean television host *

Edmund Yeo Edmund Yeo (born 6 March 1984, in Singapore) is a Malaysian film director, screenwriter and film producer. He first received international acclaim in 2009 when his Japanese-language short film, Kingyo, premiered at the Venice Film Festival. Sinc ...

(; born 1984), Malaysian filmmaker * George Yeo (; born 1954), Singaporean former politician and Air Force brigadier-general * Gwendoline Yeo (; born 1977), Singaporean-born American actress and niece of George Yeo * Yeo Jia Min (; born 1999), Singaporean badminton player * Jamie Yeo (; born 1977), Singaporean media personality * Jerry Yeo (; born 1986), Singaporean actor * Joscelin Yeo (; born 1979), Singaporean swimmer * Yeo Keng Lian (; died 1960), Chinese-born Singaporean founder of Yeo Hiap Seng * K. K. Yeo (; born 1952), Malaysian-born American bible scholar *

Kuei Pin Yeo Kuei Pin Yeo is a classical pianist and educator from Indonesia. She earned Indonesia's first doctorate in music. Early life She was born in Jakarta, Indonesia and later earned a full scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music in New York ...

(; ), Indonesian classical pianist * Yeo Ning Hong (; ), Singaporean politician * Philip Yeo (, born 1946), Singaporean bureaucrat * Richard Yeo (scientist) (; ), Chinese American scientist best known for his research on disposable diapers * Vivien Yeo (; born 1984), Malaysian actress * Yeo Yann Yann (; born 1977), Malaysian actress

Korean surnames

Korean surnames (): *

Yeo Bong-hun Yeo Bong-hun (; born 12 March 1994) is a South Korean footballer who plays as midfielder for Chungju Citizen FC on loan from Gwangju FC. Besides South Korea, he has played in Spain and Portugal. Career Club career Bong-hun joined Segunda Divis ...

(; born 1994), South Korean football midfielder * Yeo Bum-kyu (; born 1962), South Korean football midfielder * Yeo One, stage name of Yeo Chang-gu (; born 1996), South Korean singer and actor * Yeo In-hyeok (; ), South Korean a cappella singer * Yeo Hoe-hyun (; born 1994), South Korean actor * Yeo Hong-chul (; born 1971), South Korean gymnast *

Yeo Hoon-min Yeo Hoon-min ( ko, 여훈민; born August 16, 1991), also known by his stage name Hoon, is a South Korean singer and actor. He is best known as a member of South Korean boy band U-KISS under NH Media. He joined the group in February 2011 after t ...

(; born 1991), South Korean singer, former member of U-KISS *

Yeo Hyo-jin Yeo Hyo-Jin ( ko, 여효진; 25 April 1983 – 31 July 2021) was a South Korean professional footballer who played as a defender. He took part in the 2003 U-20 World Cup and 2004 Athens Summer Olympics. At the club level, he played for FC Se ...

(; born 1983), South Korean football defender * Yeo Hyun-soo (; born 1982), South Korean actor * Yeo Jin-goo (; born 1997), South Korean actor *

Yeo Kab-soon Yeo Kab-soon (; born May 8, 1974) is a South Korean sport shooter who competed in the 1992 Summer Olympics. She was born in Seoul Seoul (; ; ), officially known as the Seoul Special City, is the capital and largest metropolis of South K ...

(; born 1971), South Korean sport shooter *

Yeo Min-jeong (voice actress) Yeo Min-jeong ( ko, 여민정) is a South Korean voice actress. She joined the On-Media Voice Acting Division's voice acting division in 2000. She was known voice acting Gaeun Lee from Tooniverse's The Haunted House series. Personal life ...

(; ), South Korean voice actress * Yeo Myung-yong (; born 1987), South Korean football goalkeeper * Yeo Oh-hyun (; born 1978), South Korean volleyball player * Yeo Ok (), Korean woman poet of the Gojoseon kingdom (which fell in 108 BC) * Yeo Reum (; born 1989), South Korean football midfielder *

Yeo Sang-yeop Yeo Sang-Yeop (; born 22 July 1984) is a South Korean speed skater. He represented his country at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. In Salt Lake City where he finished in 42nd position at the 1500m. In his second Winter Olympics in 2006 ...

(; born 1984), South Korean speed skater * Yeo Seung-won (; born 1984), South Korean football forward * Yeo Sung-hae (; born 1987), South Korean football defender * Yeo U-gil (; 1567–1632), Joseon Dynasty scholar-official *

Yeo Ui-son Yeo Ui-son was a Korean civil minister (''munsin'') and diplomat from the Hamyang Yeo clan during the early period of the Joseon dynasty. Yeo served as the first governor (''moksa'') of the Jeju Island and a ''Jeonseo'' (minister). He also was s ...

(; ), Joseon Dynasty civil minister *

Vittoria Yeo Vittoria Yeo (born 20 December 1980) is a South Korean soprano. Early life and training Yeo was born in Seoul, South Korea, where she started her musical studies and graduated in opera singing at the Seokyeong University in Seoul. She moved ...

(; born 1981), South Korean soprano * Yeo Woon-hyung (; 1886–1947), Korean politician * Yeo Woon-kay (; 1940–2009), South Korean actress *

Yeo Woon-kon Yeo Woon-kon (born 4 September 1974) is a field hockey player from South Korea, who was a member of the Men's National Team that won the silver medal at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. In the final the South Koreans were beaten by the Dutch ...

(; born 1974), South Korean field hockey player

Other

People with other surnames spelled Yeo, or people for whom the Chinese characters of their names are not available: * Alby Yeo (born 1936), Australian rules footballer * Alfred Yeo (British politician) (1863–1928), British politician and businessman *

Alfred Yeo (Australian politician) Alfred William Yeo (17 August 1890 – 29 March 1976) was an Australian politician. He was a Country Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1932 to 1941, representing the electorate of Castlereagh. Yeo was born at Cobbor ...

(1890–1976), member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly * Brian Yeo (born 1944), English former footballer *

Caitlin Yeo Caitlin Yeo is an Australian musician and film composer, whose credits include the feature film ''Jucy'', All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane, and '' The Rocket''. Yeo is a graduate of the Australian Film Television and Radio School and Sydney Un ...

(), Australian film score composer * Dylan Yeo (born 1986), Canadian ice hockey player *

Douglas Yeo Douglas Yeo (born 1955) is an American bass trombonist who played in the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1985 to 2012, where he held the John Moors Cabot Bass Trombone Chair. He was also on the faculty of the New England Conservatory. In 2012 ...

(born 1955), American symphony trombonist and professor *

Edward Roe Yeo Edward Roe Yeo (3 July 1742 – 23 December 1782) was a British Member of Parliament. He was the only son of George Yeo of Huish, Devon by his wife Ann Beresford. Educated at Eton College 1758–60, and at Exeter College, Oxford 1761, he traine ...

(1742–1782), British politician, Member of Parliament for Coventry *

Elliot Yeo Elliot Yeo (born 1 October 1993) is a professional Australian rules footballer playing for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He previously played for the Brisbane Lions between 2012 and 2013. Yeo won a premiership ...

(born 1993), Australian football player for the West Coast Eagles *

Frank Ash Yeo Frank Ash Yeo (18 August 1832 – 4 March 1888) was a British industrialist and Liberal politician. Yeo was born at Bideford, Devon, the son of Thomas Yeo and his wife Elizabeth Woollacott. He was educated at Bideford School, and in Germany an ...

(1832–1888), British industrialist and Liberal politician *

Gerald Francis Yeo Gerald Francis Yeo (19 January 1845 – 1 May 1909) was an Irish physiologist and academic. Life Born in Dublin on 19 January 1845, he was second son of Henry Yeo of Tansey, Ceanchor Road, Howth, J.P., clerk of the rules, court of exchequer, by h ...

(1845–1909), Irish physiologist *

Harriet Yeo Harriet Bronwen Yeo is a British trade unionist, a former Treasurer and President of Transport Salaried Staffs' Association (TSSA), and a UK Independence Party (UKIP) politician who stood unsuccessfully for parliament in Folkestone and Hythe at t ...

(), British trade unionist * Isaah Yeo (born 1994), Australian Rugby League player *

Iva Yeo Iva Yeo (born June 5, 1939 in Winnipeg, Manitoba) is a politician in Manitoba, Canada. She was a member of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba from 1988 to 1990, representing the Winnipeg riding of Sturgeon Creek for the Manitoba Liberal Party ...

(born 1939), Canadian politician in Manitoba * James Yeo (shipbuilder) (1789–1868), Cornish-born shipbuilder, merchant, farmer and political figure in Prince Edward Island * James Yeo (politician) (1827–1903), merchant, ship builder, ship owner, and Canadian Member of Parliament for Prince Edward Island * James Lucas Yeo (1782–1818), British naval commander who served in the War of 1812 *

John Yeo John Yeo (29 June 1837 – 14 December 1924) was a Canadian farmer, ship builder and parliamentarian. Yeo was born in Port Hill, Prince Edward Island, the son of James Yeo and Damaris Sargent, and educated in England.Jonathan Yeo (born 1970), British portraitist * Joseph Yeo (born 1983), Filipino professional basketball player *

Justin Yeo Justin Yeo is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer who played for North Sydney Bears, North Sydney and Balmain Tigers, Balmain in the National Rugby League competition. Yea is noted for his support of local community event ...

, Australian rugby league player *

Kristiaan Yeo Kristiaan Yeo is a former television journalist who was a freelancer for CCTV News for CCTV America, as the network's Toronto correspondent. In 2015, Yeo was terminated from his contract with CCTV for reckless and abusive behaviour towards the ...

(), Canadian television journalist *

Leonard Yeo (English politician) Leonard Yeo (by 1512 – 30 May 1586), of London and Totnes, Devon, was an English politician. He was a Member Member may refer to: * Military jury, referred to as "Members" in military jargon * Element (mathematics), an object that belon ...

(died 1586), Member of Parliament for Totnes *

Lindsay Yeo Lindsay Yeo is a New Zealand broadcaster who for some time had his own radio programme on Newstalk ZB, and continues to make regular relief appearances on the network. Since retiring, he has set up his own radio station, broadcasting music in ...

(), New Zealand radio host * Mike Yeo (born 1974), American ice hockey coach * Norman Yeo (1886–1950), Australian rules footballer *

Peter Yeo Peter Yeo (22 May 1947 – 31 October 2023) was an Australian rules footballer. In the South Australian National Football League he played 48 games for Port Adelaide from 1965 to 1969, and 29 games for Sturt in 1970 and 1971, including the ...

(born 1947), Australian rules footballer * Peter M. Yeo (born 1963), American diplomat *

Richard Yeo Richard Yeo (ca 1720–1779) was a British medalist and Chief Engraver at the Royal Mint, in which capacity he supplied patterns for the guinea and five guinea coins of George III. He was a founding member of the Royal Academy of Art, and appea ...

(–1779), British medalist and Chief Engraver at the Royal Mint * Rick Yeo (), Canadian ice hockey coach *

Simon Yeo Simon John Yeo (born 10 October 1973 in Stockport, England) is an English former professional footballer who played as a forward from 1997 to 2011 and is currently striker-coach at Mossley. Yeo a former member of the British Army is most well k ...

(born 1973), English former footballer * Tim Yeo (born 1945), British politician and Member of Parliament *

Walter Yeo Walter Ernest O'Neil Yeo (20 October 1890 – December 1960) was an English sailor in the First World War, who is thought to have been one of the first people to benefit from advanced plastic surgery, namely a skin flap. Early life Yeo was bo ...

(1890–1960), English World War I sailor and early plastic surgery patient *

William Yeo Sir William Yeo (1 May 18969 December 1972) was an Australian ex-service leader, farmer and soldier. Early life Yeo was born in Alectown, New South Wales, the son of Australian-born schoolteacher Arthur Plane Yeo and his wife Louisa Mary (née ...

(1896–1972), Australian ex-service leader, farmer, and soldier

References

{{surname, Yeo English-language surnames Chinese-language surnames Korean-language surnames Multiple Chinese surnames