MICHAEL YOH

English form of a common biblical name (meaning ‘who is like God?’ in Hebrew) borne by one of the archangels, the protector of the ancient Hebrews, who is also regarded as a saint of the Catholic Church. In the Middle Ages, Michael was regarded as captain of the heavenly host (see Revelation 12:7–9), symbol of the Church Militant, and patron of soldiers. He was often depicted bearing a flaming sword. The name is also borne by a Persian prince and ally of Belshazzar mentioned in the Book of Daniel. Since the early 1900s it has been one of the most enduringly popular boys' names in the English-speaking world. See also Michal.

Korean (Yŏ): there are two Chinese characters for this surname. Only one of them is used by a clan large enough to warrant treatment here. The Ŭryŏng Yŏ clan's founding ancestor is said to have been Yŏ Sŏn-jae, a Song Chinese government officer who migrated from China to Koryŏ. Although members of the Yŏn clan can be found throughout the Korean peninsula, they are concentrated in the Kyŏngsang provinces.