YOW
Yow
Origin and Meaning: Yow is a British surname with Scottish origins. It is believed to be a variant of the surname "You" or "Youe". The name could be derived from the Old English personal name "Eowa" meaning "law", or from the nickname "Yowe" given to a person who resembled a sheep (ewe).
Distribution: The surname Yow is relatively uncommon in Britain, with most occurrences found in Scotland, particularly in the regions of Aberdeenshire, Angus, and Perthshire. Some Yow families have also been recorded in England, mainly in the northern counties.
Notable People:
- David Yow (b. 1960) - American musician and actor, best known as the lead vocalist of the noise rock bands Scratch Acid and The Jesus Lizard.
- Squarepusher (real name Tom Jenkinson, b. 1975) - English electronic musician and songwriter, son of Andrew Jenkinson and Linda Yow.
Variants: Variants of the surname Yow include You, Youe, and Yowe.
References:
- Reaney, P. H., & Wilson, R. M. (1997). A Dictionary of English Surnames. Oxford University Press.
- Hanks, P., Coates, R., & McClure, P. (2016). The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland. Oxford University Press.
There are approximately 43 people named Yow in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around one in a million people in Britain are named Yow.
Region of origin: Asia
Country of origin: China
Language of origin: Chinese
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Chee
- How
- Jason
- Jimmy
- Nana
Female
- Sharon
- Wal