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 A toponymic surname or topographic surname is a surname derived from a place name.

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 Middle English (abbreviated to ME) is a form of the English language that was spoken after the Norman conquest of 1066, until the late 15th century. The English language underwent distinct variations and developments following the Old English p ...

, , 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 Chinese, also known as Sinitic, is a branch of the Sino-Tibetan language family consisting of hundreds of local varieties, many of which are not mutually intelligible. Variation is particularly strong in the more mountainous southeast of main ...

of a number of distinct surnames, listed below by their pronunciation in

Mandarin Chinese Mandarin (; ) is a group of Chinese (Sinitic) dialects that are natively spoken across most of northern and southwestern China. The group includes the Beijing dialect, the basis of the phonology of Standard Chinese, the official language of ...

: * Yáng (), spelled Yeo or Yeoh based on its

Hokkien The Hokkien () variety of Chinese is a Southern Min language native to and originating from the Minnan region, where it is widely spoken in the south-eastern part of Fujian in southeastern mainland China. It is one of the national languages in ...

pronunciation (). * Yáo (), spelled Yeo or Yeoh based on its Hokkien pronunciation () * Ráo () As a

Korean surname A Korean name (Hangul: ; Hanja: ) consists of a family name followed by a given name, as used by the Korean people in both South Korea and North Korea. In the Korean language, ''ireum'' or ''seongmyeong'' usually refers to the family name (''seon ...

, 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 Hamyang Yeo clan () is one of the Korean clans. Their Bon-gwan is in Hamyang County, South Gyeongsang Province. According to the research held in 2015, the number of Hamyang Yeo clan was 34835. Their founder was who was a Hanlin Academy in Tang d ...

. * (). The largest lineage with this surname is the

Uiryeong Yeo clan Uiryeong Yeo clan () was one of the Korean clans which is descended from the last king of Baekje, Buyeo Pung. After Buyeo Pung was captured by army of Tang, the prince was forcibly sent to inland China. A descendant of the prince and the founder o ...

. * (). Additionally, two historical Korean surnames are also spelled Yeo in Revised Romanization: * () * (), which originated from the

Buyeo Buyeo or Puyŏ (Korean: 부여; Korean pronunciation: u.jʌ or 扶餘 ''Fúyú''), also rendered as Fuyu, was an ancient kingdom that was centered in northern Manchuria in modern-day northeast China. It is sometimes considered a Korean ki ...

kingdom

Statistics

Yeo was the 13th-most common Chinese surname in

Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borde ...

as of 1997 (ranked by English spelling, rather than by Chinese characters). Roughly 36,600 people, or 1.5% of the

Chinese Singaporean Chinese Singaporeans () are Singaporeans of Chinese descent. Chinese Singaporeans constitute 75.9% of the Singaporean citizen population according to the official census, making them the largest ethnic group among them. As early as the 10th ...

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 Patrick Hanks (born 24 March 1940) is an English lexicographer, corpus linguist, and onomastician. He has edited dictionaries of general language, as well as dictionaries of personal names. Background Hanks was educated at Ardingly College, ...

, there were 2,529 people on the island of

Great Britain Great Britain is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean off the northwest coast of continental Europe. With an area of , it is the largest of the British Isles, the largest European island and the ninth-largest island in the world. It is ...

and 20 on the island of

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

with the surname Yeo as of 2011. In 1881 there had been 1,565 people with the surname in Great Britain, mainly in

Devon Devon ( , historically known as Devonshire , ) is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in South West England. The most populous settlement in Devon is the city of Plymouth, followed by Devon's county town, the city of Exeter. Devon is ...

, while in mid-19th-century Ireland it was found primarily in

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Republic of Ireland, Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of th ...

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 Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, and four-tenths as

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

. 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 Alvin Yeo Khirn Hai (; 28 March 1962 – 30 July 2022) was a Singaporean lawyer and politician. Education Yeo obtained his LLB from King's College London. Career Politics Yeo was a member of the People's Action Party. He served as Mem ...

(; 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 Yeo Bee Yin (; born 26 May 1983) is a Malaysian politician from the Democratic Action Party (DAP), a component party of the Pakatan Harapan (PH) opposition coalition. She served as the Minister of Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Cli ...

(; born 1983), Malaysian politician *

Yeo Cheow Tong Yeo Cheow Tong (; born 22 June 1947) is a former Singaporean politician. A member of the governing People's Action Party (PAP), he served in the Cabinet from 1990 to 2006, and was a Member of Parliament (MP) of Hong Kah SMC from 12 December 198 ...

(; born 1947), Singaporean politician * Danny Yeo (; ), Singaporean television host * Edmund Yeo (; born 1984), Malaysian filmmaker *

George Yeo George Yeo Yong-Boon ( zh, s=杨荣文, p=Yáng Róngwén; born 13 September 1954) is a Singaporean former politician and brigadier-general who served as Minister for Foreign Affairs between 2004 and 2011. Yeo served in the Singapore Army an ...

(; born 1954), Singaporean former politician and Air Force brigadier-general *

Gwendoline Yeo Gwendoline See-Hian Yeo (; born 10 July 1977) is a Singaporean actress, musician and writer best known for her roles as Dr. Kelly Lee on ''General Hospital'', Xiao-Mei on ''Desperate Housewives'' and Sun Fu in ''Broken Trail''. She is also known ...

(; born 1977), Singaporean-born American actress and niece of George Yeo *

Yeo Jia Min Yeo Jia Min (; born 1 February 1999) is a Singaporean badminton player. She is a former World Junior No.1 and the first Singaporean in either the junior or senior categories to made it to the top of the BWF's ranking system. Early life Yeo w ...

(; born 1999), Singaporean badminton player *

Jamie Yeo Jamie Yeo (; born 17 April 1977) is a Singaporean actress, model and radio DJ. Early life Yeo was born in Singapore on 17 April 1977. She attended Fairfield Methodist Primary School and Nanyang Girls' High School before moving to Dayton, Ohi ...

(; born 1977), Singaporean media personality *

Jerry Yeo Jerry Yeo (, born 29 June 1986) is a Singaporean actor. He was a versatile full-time Mediacorp artiste, actor and TV host from 2007 to 2014. Career Yeo joined Star Search 2007 whilst a freshman at Nanyang Technological University and was first r ...

(; born 1986), Singaporean actor *

Joscelin Yeo Joscelin Yeo Wei Ling (; born 2 May 1979) is a former Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) from Nov 2006 to Apr 2011 and a former competitive swimmer from Singapore. Yeo won 40 gold medals at the Southeast Asian Games. She also represented S ...

(; 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 (; ), Indonesian classical pianist *

Yeo Ning Hong Yeo Ning Hong ( zh, s=杨林丰, p=Yáng Línfēng; born 3 November 1943) is a Singaporean chemist and former politician who served as Minister for Defence between 1991 and 1994, and Minister for Communications between 1984 and 1991. A former ...

(; ), Singaporean politician *

Philip Yeo Noel Philip Yeo Liat Kok (Chinese: 杨烈国; born 1946), DUNU (First Class), is the Chairman oEconomic Development Innovations SingaporeAdvanced MedTech HoldingsanAccuron Technologies From April 2007 to March 2018, Yeo was Chairman of Standard ...

(, born 1946), Singaporean bureaucrat * Richard Yeo (scientist) (; ), Chinese American scientist best known for his research on disposable diapers *

Vivien Yeo Vivien Yeo (; born 20 July 1984) is a Malaysian Chinese actress and businesswoman. She represented Malaysia at the 2004 Miss Chinese International Pageant and made her acting debut in the 2004 youth drama series ''Sunshine Heartbeat''. She is ...

(; born 1984), Malaysian actress *

Yeo Yann Yann Yeo Yann Yann (born 20 February 1977) is a Malaysian actress. She has worked in theatre, television, and film. Her credits include ''Singapore Dreaming'', ''Thunderstorm'', '' 881'', ''Ilo Ilo'' and ''Wet Season''. She is a pioneer-graduate ...

(; born 1977), Malaysian actress

Korean surnames

Korean surnames (): * Yeo Bong-hun (; born 1994), South Korean football midfielder * Yeo Bum-kyu (; born 1962), South Korean football midfielder *

Yeo One Yeo Chang-gu (; born March 27, 1996), better known by his stage name Yeo One, is a South Korean singer and actor. He debuted as a vocalist in a South Korean boy group Pentagon in October 2016. Aside from group activities as singer, he has also st ...

, stage name of Yeo Chang-gu (; born 1996), South Korean singer and actor * Yeo In-hyeok (; ), South Korean a cappella singer *

Yeo Hoe-hyun Yeo Hoe-hyun (hangul: 여회현; born May 9, 1994) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Web series Awards and nominations References

1994 births Living people South Korean male television actors South Ko ...

(; 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 Yeo Hyun-soo (born September 21, 1982) is a South Korean actor. Filmography Film Television series Variety show Awards References External links * * * * 1982 births Living people South Korean male film acto ...

(; born 1982), South Korean actor *

Yeo Jin-goo Yeo Jin-goo (, born August 13, 1997) is a South Korean actor. Yeo began his career as a child actor, debuting in the film ''Sad Movie'' (2005). Nicknamed " Nation's Little Brother", he went on to play the younger characters of the lead roles in ...

(; born 1997), South Korean actor * Yeo Kab-soon (; 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 Yeo Myung-Yong (; born 11 June 1987) is a South Korean footballer who plays as goalkeeper for Goyang Hi FC in K League Challenge. Career Yeo joined Busan TC after graduating from Hanyang University. He was selected by Goyang Hi FC Goyang Zai ...

(; born 1987), South Korean football goalkeeper *

Yeo Oh-hyun Yeo Oh-hyun (Hangul: 여오현; born ) is a South Korean male volleyball player. He currently plays the libero position for the Cheonan Hyundai Capital Skywalkers. Career Clubs Yeo, a 5-foot-9 (1.75 m) libero, played outside hitter for Hongik U ...

(; born 1978), South Korean volleyball player *

Yeo Ok Yeo Ok is often regarded as Korea's first woman poet. Her poem, the ''Gonghuin'' (공후인, "A Medley for the Harp" ), is one of only three poems from ancient Korean kingdom, Gojoseon (approximately 1500 B.C. - 108 B.C.) and the first by a woman ...

(), Korean woman poet of the Gojoseon kingdom (which fell in 108 BC) * Yeo Reum (; born 1989), South Korean football midfielder * Yeo Sang-yeop (; born 1984), South Korean speed skater *

Yeo Seung-won Yeo Seung-won ( ko, 여승원; born May 1, 1984) is a retired South Korean footballer. He played for Incheon United, Gwangju Sangmu, Busan Transportation Corporation The Busan Transportation Corporation (Hangul:부산교통공사, Hanja:釜� ...

(; born 1984), South Korean football forward * Yeo Sung-hae (; born 1987), South Korean football defender *

Yeo U-gil Yeo U-gil (1567-1632) was a scholar-official of the Joseon Dynasty Korea. He was also diplomat and ambassador, representing Joseon interests in the 1st Edo period diplomatic mission to the Tokugawa shogunate in Japan. 1607 mission to Japan This ...

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

Yeo Woon-kay Yeo is a Chinese, English, and Korean surname. Origins As an English surname, 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 , via sou ...

(; 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 Albert Yeo (6 November 1929 – 10 June 2014) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Essendon Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Essendon cleared Yeo to fellow VFL side St Kilda midway through the 1958 season, ...

(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 Brian George Yeo (12 April 1944) is an English former football striker. He spent almost his entire career playing for Gillingham, for whom he holds the all-time record for the most goals scored in the Football League. Career Yeo came through ...

(born 1944), English former footballer * Caitlin Yeo (), 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 (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 Isaah Ferguson-Yeo (born 6 November 1994) is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a and forward for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL and Australia at international level. At representative level he has played for ...

(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) James Yeo (1789 – August 25, 1868) was a Cornish-born shipbuilder, merchant, farmer and political figure in Prince Edward Island. He was born in Kilkhampton, Cornwall, England, the son of James Yeo. Yeo married Mary Francis in 1812. He ma ...

(1789–1868), Cornish-born shipbuilder, merchant, farmer and political figure in Prince Edward Island *

James Yeo (politician) James Yeo (October 31, 1827 – February 13, 1903) was a Canadian merchant, ship builder, ship owner, and Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada for Prince Edward Island, representing Prince County beginning in 1873 when Pri ...

(1827–1903), merchant, ship builder, ship owner, and Canadian Member of Parliament for Prince Edward Island *

James Lucas Yeo Sir James Lucas Yeo, , (; 7 October 1782 – 21 August 1818) was a British naval commander who served in the War of 1812. Born in Southampton, he joined the Royal Navy at the age of 10 and saw his first action in the Adriatic Sea. He distingu ...

(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 Jonathan Yeo (born 18 December 1970, in London, England) is a British artist who rose to international prominence in his early 20s as a contemporary portraitist, having painted Kevin Spacey, Dennis Hopper, Cara Delevingne, Damien Hirst, Prince P ...

(born 1970), British portraitist *

Joseph Yeo Joseph Henry Lim Yeo (born September 7, 1983) is a Filipino professional basketball player for the Manila Stars of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL). He was drafted third overall by the Coca-Cola Tigers in 2006. Amateur career Ye ...

(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 (), Canadian television journalist * Leonard Yeo (English politician) (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 Michael Yeo (born July 31, 1973) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and coach, currently serving as an assistant coach for the Vancouver Canucks. He is the former head coach of the Minnesota Wild and St. Louis Blues of the Nation ...

(born 1974), American ice hockey coach * Norman Yeo (1886–1950), Australian rules footballer * Peter Yeo (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 J. Richard 'Rick' Yeo was a Canadian ice hockey player and coach who was also a member of Michigan Tech's administration for over 20 years. Career Rick Yeo's first appearance in Houghton came as a player for Michigan Tech under John MacInnes. ...

(), Canadian ice hockey coach * Simon Yeo (born 1973), English former footballer *

Tim Yeo Timothy Stephen Kenneth Yeo (born 20 March 1945) is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of South Suffolk between the 1983 United Kingdom general election and that ...

(born 1945), British politician and Member of Parliament * Walter Yeo (1890–1960), English World War I sailor and early plastic surgery patient * William Yeo (1896–1972), Australian ex-service leader, farmer, and soldier

References

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