Young History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Scotland
Ireland

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

Thomas Yonge (1405?-1476), was an English judge, born about 1405, the elder son of Thomas Yonge (d. 1426), who was Mayor of Bristol in 1411, and represented Bristol in parliament in 1413-1414. His you...

Young World Ranking

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

Anthony Young, who landed in Virginia in 1619 12
Richard Young and his wife, who settled in Virginia in 1623
Miss Susan Young, aged 12, who arrived in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship "Swan" 13
Jane Young, who landed in New England in 1634 12
Joseph Young, who landed in Salem, Massachusetts in 1635 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Young Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Nicho Young, who landed in Virginia in 1701 12
Alexander Young, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 12
Eliz Young, who landed in Virginia in 1704 12
Alex Young, who arrived in Virginia in 1706 12
Anne Young, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Young Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Robert Young, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1802 12
John Tatem Young, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1802 12
Alexander Young, aged 18, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 12
Isaiah Young, aged 28, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 12
James Young, aged 21, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Young migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Young Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

George Young, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Andreas Young, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
John Young, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
Robert Young, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
William Young, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Young Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

David Young, who arrived in Quebec in 1821
John Young, who arrived in Canada in 1821
Dorah Young, aged 15, who arrived in Canada in 1823
Harriet Young, aged 3, who landed in Canada in 1823
John Young, aged 41, who landed in Canada in 1823
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Young Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

A Young, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

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

Mr. John Young, English convict who was convicted in Northumberland, England for life, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. John Young, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. William Young, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14

Young Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Young, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. William Young, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. George Young, English convict who was convicted in Lancashire, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
Mr. William Young, (b. 1797), aged 19, English convict who was convicted in Suffolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1886 18
Mr. Joseph Young, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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

Nicholas Young, who landed in New Zealand in 1769 aboard the ship Endeavour

Young Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Young, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1830
William Young, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
Arthur Young, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Lady Nugent
Edward Young, aged 31, a turner, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 20
Caroline Mary Young, aged 27, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 20
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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

Mr. John Young, aged 19, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Hopewell" arriving in Barbados on 17th February 1634 12
Mr. Harford Young, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 22
Mr. William Young, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 23
Mr. Andrew Young, (b. 1595), aged 40, British settler traveling aboard the ship "William and John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 24
William Young, aged 21, who landed in Barbados in 1635 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Young (post 1700) +

Neil Percival Young OC, OM (b. 1945), Canadian singer, songwriter, and guitarist, twice inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, known for his work with Buffalo Springfield (1966–1968), Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young (1969–1970) and as a solo artist
Captain (USN) John Watts Young (1930-2018), American NASA astronaut with 835 hours in space, Commander of the first shuttle flight, 9th person to walk on the Moon; only person to fly in the Gemini, Apollo and Space Shuttle programs 25
Charles Edward Young (1931-2023), nicknamed Chuck Young, an American university administrator and professor
David Joseph Young (1959-2023), former American football
Burt Young (1940-2023), stage name Richard Morea, an American actor, author, and painter who played Rocky Balboa's brother-in-law and best friend Paulie Pennino in the Rocky film series
Sarah Young (1946-2023), American Christian author, best known for her book Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence (2004) which has sold over 30 million copies as of 2015
Gary Young (1953-2023), American musician and music producer and original drummer of the indie rock band Pavement (1989-1993)
Mike Young (1949-2023), American restaurateur, co-founder of Chuy's, a Tex-Mex restaurant chain established in 1982 in Austin, Texas
Daniel Bracy "Danny" Young (1971-2023), American Major League Baseball pitcher who played in four games for the Chicago Cubs in 2000
Michael Darren "Mike" Young (1960-2023), American Major League Baseball player (1982-1989)
... (Another 89 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Young family +

Halifax Explosion

Mr. Rufus Charles Young (1849-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 26
Mr. Archibald W Young (1852-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 26
Mr. Richard Young (1861-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 26
Mr. Elmer Young (1912-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 26
Mr. Arthur Henry Young, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 26
... (Another 5 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. John Robinson Young (1920-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Townsville, Queensland, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 27

HMS Dorsetshire

Archie Jarvis Young, British Chief Petty Officer aboard the HMS Dorsetshire (1945) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 28

HMS Hood

Mr. Percy A Young (b. 1924), Canadian Boy Bugler serving for the Royal Marine from Alberta, Canada, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 29
Mr. John O Young (b. 1919), English Signalman serving for the Royal Navy from Manor Park, London, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 29

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Norman Young, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 30
Mr. William George Young (b. 1904), "Bill" English Able Seaman from England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 30
Mr. Robert Emmanuel Young (b. 1924), English Boy 1st Class from England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 30
Mr. James Young (b. 1924), English Boy 1st Class from England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 30

HMS Repulse

Mr. Francis Sydney Young, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 31
Mr. David Mcgill Young, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 31
Mr. Oswald Littlewood Young (1920-1942), British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse and survived the sinking, vwas listed as missing presumed killed in the evacuation of Singapore in 1942 31
Mr. R D Young, British Leading Air Mechanician, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 31
Mr. Robert Alexander Victor Young, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking, died during the evacuation of Singapore in 1942 31

Monongah Mine

Mr. Harry Young (b. 1892), African American coal miner who was in mine 8 at the Monongah mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died 32

North Sea Flood

G. H. Young, British worker aboard the trawler "Sheldon" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

Prince of Wales colliery

Mr. William Young (b. 1837), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 33

RMS Lusitania

Mrs. Elizabeth Young, Scottish 3rd Class passenger residing in Chicago, Illinois, USA visiting Scotland, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 34
Mrs. Georgina Ann Young, Canadian 1st Class Passenger from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 34
Mr. James Mason Young, Canadian 1st Class Passenger from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 34

RMS Titanic

Mr. Francis J. Young (d. 1912), aged 30, English Trimmer from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 35
Miss Marie Grice Young, aged 36, American First Class passenger from New York City, New York who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 8 35

SS Caribou

Miss Mary Young, Newfoundland passenger from Curling, Corner Brook, Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, she died in the sinking

USS Arizona

Mr. Donald G. Young, American Private First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 36
Mr. Glendale Rex Young, American Seaman First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 36
Mr. Jay Wesley Young, American Seaman First Class from Utah, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 36
Mr. Vivan Louis Young, American Water Tender First Class from Virginia, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 36
Mr. Eric Reed Young, American Ensign from Colorado, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 36

Victoria steamboat disaster

Joseph Young, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881

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.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
"Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
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)
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) John Young. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/young.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. (Retrieved fromhttps://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm).
Entombed in flood and flame (retrieved 3rd August 2021). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20120603025705/http://www.crosskeys.me.uk/history/prince.htm
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html