On the western coast of
Scotland and on the
Hebrides islands the Youyan family was born among the ancient Dalriadan clans. Their name comes from the Gaelic
personal name Eógann, which comes from the Latin name,
Eugenius, which means
well born. Youyan is a
patronymic surname, which belongs to the category of
hereditary surnames. Many patronyms were formed when a son used his father's personal name as a surname, while others came from the personal names of famous religious and secular figures. The Youyan family was established in
Scotland, well before the
Norman Conquest of
England, in 1066.
Early Origins of the Youyan family
The surname Youyan was first found in
Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western
Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of
Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and
Bute, where they held a
family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the
Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. The earliest recorded bearer of the name was Dovenaldus Ewain, documented in 1164.
Early History of the Youyan family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Youyan research.
Another 147 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1164, 1178, 1611, 1687, 1633, 1681 and 1678 are included under the topic Early Youyan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Youyan Spelling Variations
In various documents Youyan has been spelled Since medieval scribes still spelled according to sound, records from that era contain an enormous number of
spelling variations. Ewing, Ewin, Ewen, Ewans, Ewens, Eugene, Ewan and many more.
Early Notables of the Youyan family (pre 1700)
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Youyan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Youyan family to Ireland
Some of the Youyan family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 107 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Youyan family to the New World and Oceana
Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American
War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through
Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Youyan or a variant listed above: Alexander, Henry, James, John, Mathew, Thomas, William Ewing all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1865; John, Robert, and Elizabeth Ewins settled in Virginia in 1623.
The Youyan 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: Audaciter
Motto Translation: Boldly