Show ContentsYung History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The earliest origins of the Yung surname date from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name reveals that an early member was a person who was very young, from the Old English word yong and yung and was first bestowed on the younger of two bearers of the same personal name, usually a son who was named for his father.

Early Origins of the Yung family

The surname Yung was first found in Essex, where the first record of the name appears in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle as Wilfer seo lunga in 744. Many years later Walter Yonge was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. 1

Another reference lists Hugh le Yunge in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 as residing in Oxfordshire. The same rolls list Ralph le Younge in Staffordshire and later William le Yunge in Northumberland during the reign of Edward I. 2

Down in Devon, Honiton was "for a long period it was very much of a family borough. Members of the Yonge family sat almost continuously from 1640 to 1796." 3

Early History of the Yung family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Yung research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1271, 1400, 1405, 1407, 1411, 1413, 1414, 1423, 1425, 1426, 1437, 1455, 1463, 1466, 1467, 1476, 1500, 1516, 1526, 1579, 1603, 1642, 1646, 1649, 1660, 1663, 1721, 1860, 1868 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Yung History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Yung Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Yung are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Yung include: Young, Younge, Yonge, Youngson and others.

Early Notables of the Yung family

Distinguished members of the family include James Yonge (fl. 1423), English translator who belonged to an English family settled in the Irish pale. William Yonge, Archdeacon of Meath from 1407 to 1437, was possibly his brother. "James Yonge was in prison in Trim Castle from January to October 1423, being removed in the latter month to Dublin Castle, and being pardoned on 10 May 1425. A John Yonge was serjeant of the county of Limerick in the reign of Richard II, held a lease of various lands, and was convicted of unspecified felonies. " 4Thomas Yonge (1405?-1476), was an English judge...
Another 135 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Yung Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Yung Ranking

In the United States, the name Yung is the 9,371st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5 However, in France, the name Yung is ranked the 7,273rd most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 6

Ireland Migration of the Yung family to Ireland

Some of the Yung family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 121 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Yung migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Yung or a variant listed above:

Yung Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Johan Mikel Yung, who landed in New York in 1709 7
  • Raynard Yung, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1727 aboard the ship "James Goodwill" 7
Yung Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Henry Yung, who landed in Somerset County, Pennsylvania in 1837 7
  • John A Yung, who arrived in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1844 7
  • Phillip Yung, who arrived in Texas in 1845 7
  • James Yung, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1854 7
  • Charles Yung, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1876 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Philippe Joseph Yung, Belgian 1st Class Passenger from Antwerp, Belgium, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 8


The Yung Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Toujours jeune
Motto Translation: Always young.


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  7. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  8. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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