| ![Show Contents]() Yerkes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of YerkesWhat does the name Yerkes mean? The distinguished surname Yerkes is of German origin, meaning "son of George." The name is derived from the Greek "ge ergon," literally meaning "tiller of the soil" or "farmer." Yerkes was used as a first name throughout Europe during the Middle Ages due to the legendary dragon-slaying fame of St. George, and eventually came into use as a surname around the 12th century. Early Origins of the Yerkes familyThe surname Yerkes was first found in various regions of Germany; it is likely that several branches of the family emerged independently when hereditary surnames came into common use. The earliest recorded bearer of the name was Everhardus filius Georgi, who was a resident of Hamburg in 1256. Every branch of the young Yerkes family was instrumental during this early period, each playing a major role in the development of the society of its particular region. Early History of the Yerkes familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Yerkes research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1256, 1471, 1559, 1585, 1588, 1611, 1656, 1811, 1868 and 1933 are included under the topic Early Yerkes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Yerkes Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Georg, George, Gurganus, Gürganus, Georgi, Giorges, Gorges, Georgeis, Jorge, Jurge, Jürge, Jörg, Gorgens, Görgens, Jürgen, Jurgen, Yerkes and many more. Early Notables of the Yerkes familyAnother 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Yerkes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Yerkes RankingIn the United States, the name Yerkes is the 13,366th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 Migration of the Yerkes familySome of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Wilhelm Georg and his wife Anna Marie, who settled in New York with their three children in 1709; Michael Jurg, who emigrated from the Palatinate to Pennsylvania in 1727.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Yerkes (post 1700) | + |
- Brayton Walter Yerkes (1932-2024), known professionally as Bob Yerkes, American stuntman, working films such as Back to the Future, Return of the Jedi, and Hook
- Steve Yerkes (1888-1971), American baseball player
- Robert Yerkes (1876-1956), American psychologist, ethologist, and primatologist
- Charles Tyson Yerkes (1837-1905), American railway financier
- Silas Allen Yerkes (1834-1865), American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State Board of Agriculture, 1861 2
- Robert H. Yerkes, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Delaware, 1952, 1956 2
- Robert G. Yerkes, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for U.S. Representative from Michigan 17th District, 1932 2
- Joseph Ball Yerkes (b. 1839), American politician, Member of Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1873-76 2
- John W. Yerkes, American Republican politician, Member of Republican National Committee from Kentucky, 1896-1904; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kentucky, 1896 (speaker) 2
- Harman Yerkes, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Pennsylvania State Senate, 1874-78 2
- ... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
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