Yoo
A rare surname that is often a spelling variant of Yeo, Yeoe, or Yoo-derived forms from southwestern England.
The #2,724 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 23,346 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The historical excerpts point to medieval forms such as atte Yoo and to a close connection with Yeo. In English surname history, Yeo is commonly linked to a river or stream-name in Devon and Somerset, from an Old English word meaning “river” or “watercourse.” Yoo in this context is best understood as a spelling variant shaped by regional pronunciation and later recording practices, rather than as a separate inherited word with a clear independent meaning.
History
The cited forms come from Devon and Somerset in the Middle Ages, which fits the West Country concentration of the Yeo/Yeo-related surname cluster. Over time, spellings fluctuated widely, and short spellings like Yoo could be recorded for the same family line as Yeo, Yeo, or similar variants. Modern Yoo can also be a separate surname of Korean origin in other contexts, so bearers today may have more than one historical source.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The old phrase atte Yoo means “at the Yeo,” showing how many English surnames began as a description of where someone lived.
From the historical record
“Nicholas de la Ya, co. Devon, ibid. William atte Yoo, co. Soms., i Edw. UI:KlrbysQaett,p.89. John atte Yo^ co. Soms., i Edw. HI : ibid. p. 183.”
— A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (alternate scan)