Yeardley

Yeardley is a name used as both a given name and a surname. It is a variant spelling of Yardley, a toponymic surname originating from English place names such as Yardley. The place name itself is derived from Old English elements geard, meaning enclosure or yard, and leah, meaning a clearing or meadow.

In modern usage, Yeardley as a given name has appeared in the United States and in other English-speaking countries, sometimes as a feminine name and less commonly for males, reflecting broader trends in decorative and surname-derived given names.

Notable people with the given name Yeardley include Yeardley Love, a university student whose murder at the University of Virginia drew national attention to dating violence and campus safety. Another notable bearer is Yeardley Smith, an American actress and voice actress known for her role as Lisa Simpson on The Simpsons.

As a surname, Yeardley is much rarer in contemporary use and is often found in historical records as a variant spelling of Yardley.

See also Yardley.