This surname is derived from an occupation. 'the yeoman,' one of some small position or estate. The 's' in Yeomans is the patronymic; compare Jones for Johnson, Roberts for Robertson, &c.

Henricus Yhoman, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Johannes Yomanne, 1379: ibid.

Robert Yomanson. Valor Ecclesiasticus.

1539-40. Married — John Trevisam and Agnes Yemerson: St. Dionis Backchurch.

1583. — Nycholas Speringe and Ellyn Yeomans: St. Michael, Cornhill.

Fraunce Yoeman, 1596: Reg. St. Columb Major.

1781. Married — Thomas Yeoman and Hannah Neale: St. George, Hanover Square.

From ME. yoman, yemon, ȝetnan, originally a countryman or retainer, but later a freeholder next under the rank of gentleman, a man who owned free land of forty shillings annual value. Yeoman is not found in Old English but occurs in ME. as yéman, yōman, cognate with Old Frisian gāmann 'villager.' The surname is of comparatively late appearance in Scotland. George Zeman appears as tenant of the bishop of Moray in 1565 (REM., 438), and David Yeamen, merchant, was admitted burgess of Dundee in 1592 (Wedd, p. 123). Archibald Yemen was one of a number who attested the boundaries of Huttsonis croft in 1651 (Home 220), and Christina Yemane or Yeman, spouse to David Goldman, burgess of Dundee, is in record in 1632 (Inquis., 1878, 1879). James Zeaman of Eastwalkmiln in 1666 appears again in 1689 as James Yeoman, collector at the Quire door of the church of Rattray (DPD., II, p. 79, 84), Patrick Yemane of Dryburgh is recorded in 1678 (Inquis., 6069), and David leaman was burgess of Dundee in 1683 (ibid., 6461). James Yeaman at West Waulkmiln of Rattray is recorded in 1768 (Dunkeld), and John Yeoman in Milntown of Invererashie in 1773 (ibid.). Zemane 1610.

(Teutonic) orig. Countryman, Rustic; later Retainer; Freeholder [Middle English yoman (also yhoman), yeman; not found in Old English—doubtless borr. from Low German: cp.O.Fris. gdman, from gá, district, village (Mod. (West) Frisian gea, district, region), O.L.Ger. gô, district; cogn. with Mod. High Ger. gau, district, country (as disting, from town), Middle High German gou, O.H.Ger. gouwi, gewi; Gothic gawi, district, country, whence gauia, countryman] Henricus Yhoman.— Yorks Poll-Tax, A.D. 1379.

Chaucer’s description of the yeoman of his day, although somewhat lengthy, is worth quoting, as giving the type which gave rise to the surname— A yeman hadde he [the knight], and ser- vantz namo [no more] At that tyme, for hym liste ride soo; And he was clad in cote and hood of grene.

A sheef of pocock arwes [peacock arrows] bright and kene Under his belt he bar ful thriftily . . . And in his hand he baar a myghty bowe. ..

And by his syde a swerd [sword] and a bokeler, And on that oother syde a gay daggere. ..

An horn he bar, the bawdryk [baldric] was of grene.

A forster [forester] was he, soothly as I gesse.— Prol. Cant. Tales, 101-117.

Although Chaucer in the above quotation has the spelling yeman, in the Reeve's Tale he refers to the miller’s “estaat of yomanrye."

(English) One owning a small landed property, a freeholder; one who acted as a retainer or gentleman attendant in a royal or noble household.

A freeholder; the first degree of commoners. Some "define a Yeoman to be a free-born Englishman, who may lay out of his own free land in revenue to the sum of forty shillings." Bailey. Under the feudal system a knight's fee was twenty pounds, whence it would follow, that an ordinary yeoman's revenue was one-tenth part of that of the knight; though some Yeomen, for example those of Kent, were much richer. See Whatman.

A man free—born, a freeholder; one next in order to the gentry.

From the Flemish, Jemayne; a personal name.

From the German, Jochmann; a personal name.