The name Yokefleet derives from the
Old Norse personal name
Jokell, and the
Old English flēot meaning '
stream'. Yokefleet is one of the ancient manors mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086. The original Manor House was located on a moated site in the hamlet. In 1823 Yokefleet had a population of 199, which included a
yeoman farmer, a corn
miller, and a cattle dealer. It contained a windmill which served "as a mark for sailors to navigate the river". By 1831 Yokefleet population had dropped to 190, within a parish area of which included ecclesiastical land and Walling
Fen. The land mainly belonged to the Empson family who were
impropriators—lay persons as patrons of
incumbent clergy. There was a
Wesleyan chapel. Occupations by this time included seven farmers, a school teacher for the local school, a corn miller, tailor, and two shoemakers, one of whom was a shopkeeper. A descendant of the Empson family, born at Yokefleet Hall, was
literary critic and
poet Sir
William Empson (1906 – 1984).
Prince Philip named his horse after Yokefleet and was seen having trouble controlling the horse at
Horse Guards Parade, London in 1953. In early December 2013 Yokefleet, among other regional settlements was subject to flooding due to a tidal surge on the Ouse the largest in 60 years. According to the
Environment Agency, damage caused would have been worse had it not been for the flood defences in place across the region. A 2014 Flood Investigation Report from East Riding of Yorkshire Council recommended that affected property owners should "develop a personal flood plan". However, improved flood defences are likely to be introduced across the region, including the significant raising of the river bank in order to ensure such flooding does not reoccur. The Environment Agency expressed confidence in such flood defences being improved by the government in order to prevent further flooding in the Haltemprice and Howden constituency and across the East Riding of Yorkshire. == Governance ==