The Yell name is NOT common in the US. The Yell family of TN, that moved to AR, is about the only one I've ever run across, and I did research on Gen. James Yell's family for a book I wrote. The progenitor was one John Yell, who was born in Massachusetts in 1693. His grandson Moses (d. 1817), a mariner, moved south. I suspect the family is of Irish origin, if only because John Yell's son was given the Irish name of "Pierce", and the name "Pierce" recurs throughout this family. The Yell researcher, a descendant, I was in touhc with never mentioned any gold mines to me!