>> My name can be pronounced exactly as the Scots/English >> form 'Hugh'. This is probably the best pronunciation (easiest to write) for >> the purposes of being understood. ... >> >> Pob Hwyl, >> Huw >> Huw Garan (nj152@uk.ac.lamp.vms) >> > >this leads me to ask something my family has wondered for a while. >I have a great grandfather named George Hugh Williams, but he wrote >his middle name "Yeo". What we were wondering was if this was some >pronunciation of "Hugh" in Welsh. It's possible that it's just a nickname >but since we don't speak Welsh we were wondering. any help would >be greatly appreciated. (sorry no Welsh, I hope to begin learning >the language soon, I've joined here due to piqued curiosity). > >Thanks, > Alan Alan, I'm afraid I can't tell you the exact reasons why your grandfather signed himself 'Yeo', all I can tell you is the accepted meaning of the name 'Yeo' in case it's of any relevance. R.A. Mc Kinley, (1990) gives it as being a name prevelant in the South- East of England, especially in Devon. He gives its meaning (pp77,184) as 'a brook and 'a stream'. Sir William Adisson, (1978 p56) agrees that it is a Devonian name and gives its meaning as 'dweller by a stream'. (R.A. Mc. Kinley: A History of British Surnames pub. Longman 1990 Sir Wm. Addison: Understanding British Surnames pub. B.J. Batsford & co, London 1978.) Unfortunately, none of the books of Christian names I looked at appeared ever to have heard of the name 'Yeo'. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help - our library is somewhat drastically understocked at the moment. Pob Hwyl, Huw Huw Garan (NJ152@uk.ac.lamp.vms)