I read this Yorkshire online news magazine, I like to read about the differnt goings on's and history ect..I have highlighted the 2 amazing bits here and the link is below to see the full article.
Breeders are still debating the precise origin of the Yorkshire Terrier. Its commonly held that the bloodline goes back to Scotland via Paisley Weavers, who moved to the thriving mill towns of Yorkshire and Lancashire around the turn of the 19th century. The dogs they brought with them were terriers - The West Highland, the Cairn, the Clydesdale, the Skye and of course the Paisley Terrier. These dogs were rather bigger than today's Yorkie. Some stood thirteen to fourteen inches tall and could weight up to 200 pounds.
By this time Toy Terriers were entering dog show circles, initially under the categories of Rough and Broken Haired. Broken Haired Scotch terriers were limited to under 5lbs in weight. Others could weigh up to 30lbs - far heavier than the 5lb nippers you see around today.
By 1874 the name had changed. The Yorkshire Terrier had arrived. In 1886 the Kennel Club made it officially an individual breed.
to read this article in full go here:
http://ayup.co.uk/yorkshire/index.htm