Map of England showing where the Yoho arms are recorded
The Yoho arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Yoho arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Yoho Family in England
The family name Yoho has roots that trace back to the early seventeenth century in the historic city of York, England. Records indicate that members of the family were established in this region by 1620, living during a time of great social and religious change in Britain. The name itself likely evolved as a phonetic variation of older surnames or regional descriptors common in Northern England during the late Middle Ages. As the family grew, many members eventually sought new opportunities by migrating across the Atlantic to the American colonies. This transition marked a shift from their traditional English life to the rugged frontier of the New World, where the name became firmly rooted in the history of the Appalachian region. Through these migrations, the Yoho family transformed from local residents of York into a widespread lineage that helped shape the development of early American settlements.
Yoho Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Eoh
Old English word for a horse or stallion.
This name
YohoA topographic or occupational name referring to a keeper of horses or a horse rider.
also spelled
Yowe
Yow
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
North Yorkshire County Record Office, Parish Registers of York, 1620
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