'yield' originates from Old English, specifically the word 'gieldan' (also spelled 'gieldan'/'gieldan'), where the root originally meant 'to pay' or 'to give'. The agentive suffix '-er' (forming 'yielder') comes from Old English '-ere' meaning 'one who'.

'gieldan' (Old English) developed into Middle English forms such as 'yelden'/'yielden' and eventually became the modern English verb 'yield'; the agent noun was formed with the suffix '-er' to create 'yielder' (modern 'yield-er').

Initially, the root meant 'to pay or give'; over time the meaning broadened and shifted toward 'give way' and 'produce', and the modern sense includes both 'to surrender' and 'to generate/produce'.