Recorded in several spelling forms including Yabersley, Yabsley, and Yabslie, this is an English surname. It is either locational or topographical, and of late medieval origins. It is believed to be a derived spelling of Abboldesi, a place which appeared in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, and is now more commonly known as Abbotsley or Abbotsleigh. However the original surname had nothing to do with "Abbots" in any spelling, and derives from to the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name "Eadbeald" meaning "Prosperity-bold" with "leah", the modern -ley, describing meaning a fenced enclosure suitable for agriculture. An early example of the surname recording found in the surviving registers of the diocese of Greater London is that of John Yabsley. This was dated 1762, when he was a witness at St. Leonard's church, Shoreditch, during the reign of King George IIIrd of England known as "Farmer George", 1760 - 1820. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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