Yoder is a Swiss German surname with roots dating back to about 1260, derived from the name Theodore. Yoders were among the German immigrants who arrived in America between 1650 and 1730. The surname gained prominence through Saint Theodore of Octodurum, the first bishop of Octo Durum in present-day Martigny, Valais, Switzerland, and patron saint of Valais and the Walser people. In Amish history, Jacob Yoder, of Swiss descent, is renowned for inventing the flatboat, symbolizing significant contributions to early American transportation.