Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Iadon, Iadun 1086 DB 1167 P

• Jeaddun Hy2 Calv

• Jadon(a) 1166 P 1205 FF

• Jaddon 1202 FF

• Ghedune 1172,1172–4 YChvi

• Ihedon 1298 BltComp38

• Yhedon 1316 Vill 1372 YDi

• Jedona 1175–90 YCh1873

• Jedune Ric1 Kirkst

• Eiadona 1175–85 YCh201

• Hedon on Ayr 1251 Ass

• Yadun 1185–1215 YCh1874

• Yadon 13 Dugdv

• Yedune 1185–1215 YCh1875

• Yedon 1285 KI 1303 Aid 1310 WYD 1321 BM 1327 Calv 1556 FF

• Yeden 1271 FF

• Ʒedun, Ʒedon 1347 BM 1545 LS

• Over Ʒedon 1347 BM

• Yeadon 1446 YDiii 1459 KirkstRent 1643 PROt

• Over Yeadon 1550,1556 TestLds 1589 FF

• Yeaden 1641 Rates

• Yeddon 1535 VE 1539 MinAcct

• Yedden 1540 ib

Etymology

Yeadon stands on the upper slope of a lofty hill some two miles north of the R. Aire. Topography precludes a derivation from either ēa 'river' (for OE  ēa could hardly be used of a pond such as that at Yeadon Tarn infra ), or geat 'gate, gap' in its sense 'gap or pass through the hills' (since there is no pass through the hill at Yeadon).Ekwall is possibly right, therefore, in taking it to be 'lofty hill', v. hēah , dūn ; the single He - is normally developed from hēah , but all other spellings of the type Ya - (Ia -, Ja -) and Ye - (Yhe -, Jea -, Ghe -) are from a form with the stress shifted to the second el. of the diphthong and the development of a prosthetic y - (as in Yafforth YN 277 from ēa 'river', etc., cf. Anglia xxxiv, 293 ff). Initial J -, Gh - are AN spellings for this y -. Yealand La 188–9 has a similar origin and development. 'Over' Yeadon in relation to Nether Yeadon infra . v. Addenda.