My partner Liz and I started this research around 1984.

The original intention was to collect information on her direct ancestors, to leave for her children. 

As she is descended from four lines of Yellands, We also aimed to research all the Cornish Yellands who are descended from Thomas Yelland. He came to Cornwall from South Brent in Devon in the early 1600s.

After we retired, this became a full-time hobby and we then started to research all her blood relatives.

We are now researching all Yellands worldwide

Yolland

Yalland

Yeoland

Yealand

Yealand

Yellen

There is a family from the Rotherham area of Yorkshire, but most originate from Devon.

There are many Yelland place names scattered throughout Devon, The main branch originating in South Brent

The name was derived from the Old English word 'hea-land', the dweller on the high land. This is consistent with the South Brent family, who lived on the lower slopes of Dartmoor and also used the alias Welbroke.  This is likely to be after the Wella Brook, which is just north of Yelland farm.

1540 land lease sale: John Yeolland, alias Welbroke, South Brent, Devon

"Yoldlande” is recorded at the 1220 Assize

“Oldelande” was noted in a record from 1330

There are Yolland and Welbrooke families recorded in
South Brent in the 1525 Lay Subsidy and a Robert YOLLELOND is listed in the Lay Subsidy of 1332.

A Roger Yolland is listed as a Pikeman in the 1569 Muster Roll.

John de la Yaldelonde 1273 Devon

Willemus de Yeland of Yorkshire was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379

Taken from transcriptions of the 1880/81 census returns and the England & Wales GRO  birth index 1837-2005