Young History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

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The name Young has a history dating as far back as the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name for 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 Young family

The surname Young 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 Young family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Young 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 Young History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Young Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Young have been found, including Young, Younge, Yonge, Youngson and others.

Early Notables of the Young family

Distinguished members of the family include

Young World Ranking

In the United States, the name Young is the 28th most popular surname with an estimated 479,991 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Young is ranked the 24th most popular surname with an estimated 53,994 people with that name. 5 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Young is the 710th popular surname. 6 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Young as 10th with 1,003 people. 7 Australia ranks Young as 16th with 54,684 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Young as 9th with 6,887 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Young as 40th with 91,634 people. 10 South Africa ranks Young as 710th with 9,604 people. 11

Migration of the Young family to Ireland

Some of the Young 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.



Young migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Young, or a variant listed above:

Young Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Young Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Young Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Young migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Young Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Young Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
Young Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Young migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Young Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Young Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Young migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Young Settlers in New Zealand in the 18th Century
Young Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Young migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 21
Young Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Young (post 1700) +





The Young 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.



Suggested Readings for the name Young +





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