Namesakes
Chinese Emperors:
3 emperors
Emperor Liu Shi (a.k.a. Yuan) 49-33 BC 
Emperor Sima Rui (a.k.a. Yuan) 318-323
Emperor Li Yuan 618-626
Nobel Prize Winners:
1 chemistry
(chemistry) Yuan T. Lee 1986
Notable Artists:
1 painter
Ma Yuan c. 1160-1225
Notable Writers:
1 poet
Qu Yuan c. 340-278 BC
Olympic Medalists:
1 gold
(gold) Cao Yuan 2012 diving