Young (surname)

Young is an English surname derived from Old English geong meaning "young". This surname was used as a descriptive name to distinguish father from son.[1][2]

In some cases, Young is a romanization of the Chinese surname Yang (simplified Chinese: 杨; traditional Chinese: 楊). It may also be a rare romanization of the Korean surnames Yong (용; 龍) or Yeong (영; 永/榮/影), though in Korean names, Young is more commonly part of a given name rather than a surname.[3]

Young is the 34th most common surname in the USA,[4] 49th most common in England & Wales,[5] and 19th most common in Scotland.[6]

Notable individuals with the surname Young include:

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  • Olive Young (1903–1940), American-born actress in China
  • Oliver Young (1855–1908), British politician
  • Otto Young (1844–1906), German American businessman
  • Owen D. Young (1874–1962), American founder of RCA and diplomat; Time Man of the Year for 1929

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See also

References

  1. ↑ Campbell, Mike. "Meaning, origin and history of the surname Young". Behind the Name. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  2. ↑ "Last name YOUNG: origin and meaning". Geneanet. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  3. ↑ The latter surname is uncommon; according to the 2000 South Korean census, only 259 South Korean citizens had this surname. The former surname is more common, at 14,067 citizens, but when they romanize it, for example in their South Korean passports, nearly all of them (97%, in one sample from 2007) spell it Yong rather than Young. In contrast, given names beginning with Yeong/Young were some of South Korea's most popular names for baby boys in the 1940s through 1960s. 성씨 로마자 표기 방안: 마련을 위한 토론회 [Plan for romanisation of surnames: a preparatory discussion]. National Institute of the Korean Language. 25 June 2009. p. 60. Retrieved 22 October 2015. "KOSIS" 행정구역(구시군)/성씨·본관별 가구 및 인구 [Family names by administrative region (district, city, county): separated by bon-gwan, households and individuals]. Korean Statistical Information Service. Retrieved 23 October 2015. 이진희 [Yi Jin-hui] (28 January 2009). 너도 민준이니… 어! 또 서연이야 [You're also Min-jun ... Oh! Another Seo-yeon?]. Hankook Ilbo. Retrieved 27 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "Genealogy". Census.gov. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  5. ↑ Campbell, Mike. "Common Surnames in England, Wales and the Isle of Man 1991". Behind the Name. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  6. ↑ Campbell, Mike. "Common Surnames in Scotland 2001". Behind the Name. Retrieved 2026-05-09.
  7. ↑ Howes, Durward, ed. (1937). American Women : The Official Who's Who Among the Women of the Nation, Vol. II (1937–38). Los Angeles, CA: American Publications, Inc. p. 763. OCLC 435906904.
  8. ↑ Birkby, Evelyn (1991). "Jessie Young". Neighboring on the Air : Cooking with the KMA Radio Homemakers. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press. pp. 38–39. ISBN 0-87745-316-0.
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