The logos of the Yarbrough National Genealogical and Historical Association pays homage to our earliest proven ancestor, Richard Yarbrough, who was born in England about 1615, emigrated to the Virginia colony around 1635 and died there in 1702. His resting place is at Old Blandford Church in Petersburg, Virginia. His grave is the oldest burial at Old Blandford and it is believed that the Church and cemetery are on lands he once owned and donated.

            The original tombstone has weathered badly over the years, even though it still marks the location of his grave. During the 1980’s, the YNGHA commissioned a new tombstone that is pictured next to the old one in the photo. This tombstone will continue to honor the man believed to be the progenitor of American Yarbrough’s for centuries to come.

A Note and Caution About Yarbrough “Coats of Arms”

            There are several Coats of Arms that have been awarded over the centuries to various branches of the English Yarbrough family. One was awarded to the Yarborough of Wilksby (Lincolnshire) and Yarborough of Heslington Hall (Yorkshire), with the latter tied to descendants of Eustachius de Yerburgh (Lord of Yarburgh around the Conquest era). The College of Arms has recorded several (nearly identical) versions for Lincolnshire and Yorkshire lines.

            Since our Richard Yarbrough has not been conclusively proven back to his English roots, it is not yet possible for American Yarbrough’s to know if his line had a bonafide Coat of Arms. Coat of Arms in England were granted by royal authority (via the College of Arms) starting in the medieval period, primarily to individuals.  They could be inherited by direct male-line descendants (with cadency marks for branches) and were used for identification in battle, tournaments, and seals.

           For these reasons the YNGHA has chosen to change its identification symbol from that illustrated below to the new designs shown at the top of this page.