Young (surname)


The surname Young has multiple origins.
In some instances—particularly in England, Northern Ireland, and Scotland—the surname derives from the Middle English yunge or yonge. This form of the surname often originated to differentiate a younger son from other family members.
In Ireland, Young can be a translation of the Gaelic Ó hÓgáin, meaning "descendant of Ógáin," with Ógáin translating to "young." It often serves as an anglicized form of the Irish surname Hogan. Additionally, it could be an anglicized version of Ó Maoláin, as Irish immigrants frequently had their names modified to be more accessible to English speakers.
In Scotland, Young could be an anglicized form of MacEóin, which is the Gaelic form of "John." Over time, this Gaelic name may have evolved into the surname Young.
In other instances, the surname Young is an anglicization of various similar-sounding or cognate surnames from other languages. Examples include the German Jung and Junk, the Dutch Jong, the Swedish Ljung, and the French Lejeune and Lajeunesse. Additionally, Young can be a variant of the French surnames Dion or Guyon.
In some cases, Young is a romanization of the Chinese surname Yang. It may also be a rare romanization of the Korean surnames Yong or Yeong, though in Korean names, Young is more commonly part of a given name rather than a surname.
Historically, five baronetcies have been created for individuals with the surname Young: one in the Baronetage of England, one in the Baronetage of Great Britain, and three in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. As of 2014, four of these titles remain extant. See Young baronets for more details.
Young is the 49th-most common surname in England; 22nd in Scotland and 11th in New Zealand.
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  • Young baronets, baronets of the UK in the surname of Young
  • Yvette Young, American guitarist and front-woman of math rock band Covet

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