Show ContentsYoung History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestral home of the Young family is in the German province of Bavaria. Young is a German nickname surname. Such names came from eke-names, or added names, that described their initial bearer through reference to a physical characteristic or other attribute. Young is a name for a young person or the junior member of a family or community, being derived from the German word "jung," which means "young."

Early Origins of the Young family

The surname Young was first found in Bavaria, where this family name became a prominent contributor to the development of the district from ancient times. Always prominent in social affairs, the name became an integral part of that turbulent region as it emerged to form alliances with other families within the Feudal System and the nation. The name "Jung" (English: Young) had the original meaning of "junior," an addition to a name which would reflect the bearer's status or age, as well as distinguish him or her from the father, or "senior."

Early History of the Young family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Young research. Another 74 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1740 and 1817 are included under the topic Early Young History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Young Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Young include Jung, Juenger, Jungg, Junge, Jungge, Jungher, Jungblut, Jungbauer, June, Deyoung, Young, Jungbluth, Jungblud, Deshong, Jonker, Junker, Jungling, Jüngling and many more.

Early Notables of the Young family

More information is included under the topic Early Young Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

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. 1 However, in Canada, the name Young is ranked the 24th most popular surname with an estimated 53,994 people with that name. 2 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Young is the 710th popular surname. 3 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Young as 10th with 1,003 people. 4 Australia ranks Young as 16th with 54,684 people. 5 New Zealand ranks Young as 9th with 6,887 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Young as 40th with 91,634 people. 7 South Africa ranks Young as 710th with 9,604 people. 8


United States Young migration to the United States +

The great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were:

Young Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Anthony Young, who landed in Virginia in 1619 9
  • 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" 10
  • Jane Young, who landed in New England in 1634 9
  • Joseph Young, who landed in Salem, Massachusetts in 1635 9
  • ... (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 9
  • Alexander Young, who arrived in Virginia in 1702 9
  • Eliz Young, who landed in Virginia in 1704 9
  • Alex Young, who arrived in Virginia in 1706 9
  • Anne Young, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 9
  • ... (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 9
  • John Tatem Young, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1802 9
  • Alexander Young, aged 18, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 9
  • Isaiah Young, aged 28, who arrived in New York, NY in 1804 9
  • James Young, aged 21, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1804 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada 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

Australia 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 11
  • 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 11
  • 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 11
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 12
  • 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 13
  • 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 14
  • 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 15
  • 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 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand 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 17
  • Caroline Mary Young, aged 27, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies 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. 18
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 9
  • Mr. Harford Young, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 19
  • Mr. William Young, (b. 1614), aged 21, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 20
  • Mr. Andrew Young, (b. 1595), aged 40, British settler traveling aboard the ship "William and John" arriving in St Christopher (Saint Kitts) in 1635 21
  • William Young, aged 21, who landed in Barbados in 1635 9

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 22
  • 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.)

Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. Rufus Charles  Young (1849-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 23
  • 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 23
  • Mr. Richard  Young (1861-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 23
  • Mr. Elmer  Young (1912-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 23
  • Mr. Arthur Henry  Young, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 23
  • ... (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 24
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 25
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 26
  • 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 26
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 27
  • 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 27
  • 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 27
  • 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 27
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Francis Sydney Young, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 28
  • Mr. David Mcgill Young, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 28
  • 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 28
  • Mr. R D Young, British Leading Air Mechanician, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 28
  • 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 28
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 29
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 30
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 31
  • Mrs. Georgina Ann Young, Canadian 1st Class Passenger from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 31
  • Mr. James Mason Young, Canadian 1st Class Passenger from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 31
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 32
  • 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 32
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 33
  • 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 33
  • 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 33
  • 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 33
  • 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 33
Victoria steamboat disaster
  • Joseph Young, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881


Suggested Readings for the name Young +

  • Biographical Dictionary of the Youngs (born 1653-1870) by Louise Ryder Young.
  • Descendants of Jacob Young of Shelby County, Kentucky, Including President Harry S. Truman by Elsie Spry Davis.
  • Genealogy and Letters of the Strudwick, Ashe, Young and Allied Families by Betsy Lawson Willis.

  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. "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
  4. 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)
  5. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  6. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  7. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  8. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  9. 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)
  10. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  17. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  18. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  19. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  20. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  21. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's (Retrieved October 4th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  22. NASA Astronauts Homepage. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) John Young. Retrieved from http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/young.html
  23. 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
  24. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  25. Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
  26. 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
  27. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  28. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  29. Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. (Retrieved fromhttps://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm).
  30. 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
  31. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  32. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  33. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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