Youde

YOUDE is an English surname mostly found in Cheshire and Flintshire.

Variants of the surname are Youd, Eaude and Yould, however Youds is not part of this group.

The earliest record dates from 1427 and in 1562 the name appears in Little Budworth in Cheshire.

Currently little is known about the meaning or origin of this unusual and rare surname, it is not listed in any books of British surnames.

This has led to theories of Huguenot, Flemish or Jewish roots which cannot be substantiated.

Viking roots are a more likely possibility as the Wirral peninsula was colonised by Norwegian Vikings from 902 AD onwards and Viking settlements also existed further inland in West Cheshire.

It is hoped that DNA profiling from suitable Youd descendants will prove or disprove this theory.

The earliest document located so far that mentions Youd or one of its variants are muster rolls of English soldiers serving in France during the Hundred Years' War.

1427 - John Eude, man-at-arms stationed in Rouen garrison

1430 - William Yoold, archer stationed in Avranches garrison

1437 - Davy Yoult, archer in field at the siege of Tancarville

The next early records are Parish registers listing baptisms, marriages and burials according to the law of 1538. However most churches only started to keep records a few decades later.

1561 - Parish records start in Little Budworth

1562 - Katrena, daughter of Thomas Yolde & Johanne Holbrocke is baptised in Little Budworth, St. Peter

1585 - Parish records start in Hawarden

1586 - Edward, son of John Ewde is baptised in St Deiniol's Church, Hawarden

The surname then spread to nearby towns and villages in West Cheshire and Flintshire, becoming relatively numerous in Frodsham, Hawarden, Oscroft, Kinnerton, Chester and eventually established in Liverpool from about 1740.

Over 40 variants of the surname were recorded in the 16th and 17th century, some examples are: Yewd, Yeud, Yeoud, Yowd, Yeowed, Yowood, Eude, Eaude, Ewd, Hude, Hewde etc.

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