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Clan Young (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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Young

Clan Crest: A demi lion issuant, Gules, holding a sword, Proper

Clan Motto: Robore Prudentia Praestat (Prudence Excels Strength)

Origin of Name: Descriptive

Lands: Various

Region: Scottish Borders

Clan Chief: None, armigerous clan

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Young Clan History

When a son and his father shared a forename, the name Young was originally used to distinguish between them. It was also used by the father's heir in the case of multiple sons. As a result, this is a fairly common surname in Scotland, particularly in the Borders and the Northeast regions of Angus and Kincardineshire.

King David I of Scotland

Border youngsters

It is unknown when the Youngs began to grow in significant numbers in the Borders region between Scotland and England, but it was most likely during the mid-Middle Ages. Surnames were not used in the area until perhaps the early 14th century at the earliest.Several families settled in the Borders during the reign of David I (1124-1153), including the forefathers of the Brouns, Kerrs, and Comyns, as well as the Youngs. Although the name Young suggests Anglo ancestry, it is possible that it is of Norman origin, as are the names of the aforementioned Brouns, Kerrs, and Comyns.

The Youngs were mostly found in the Borders' Middle March area, and like many other families in the Marches, they took part in raiding parties on neighboring villages and settlements on both sides of the border. These Border Reivers gangs raided along the Scottish-English border between the end of the 13th century and the beginning of the 17th century, and while the Youngs were not a large family, they would associate with larger gangs, such as the East Teviotdale reivers. Blackhall Jock, Hobb of the Bog, Hob the Gun, and Tom the Gun are among the 'Yonges' who have been recorded as raiders at one time. Some might assume that Hob and Tom were considered to be skilled marksmen. The region's lawlessness produced tough and resourceful fighters who were frequently relied on to help defend Scotland in times of need.

There are very few written records remaining from Scotland's Middle Ages. Because the printing press did not arrive in Scotland until 1501, everything had to be handwritten, and copies were rarely made. So, if any handwritten record was destroyed or lost, it would most likely be lost forever. During the Middle Ages, it was not uncommon for castles and churches to be destroyed, as well as any documents.However, there are a few records prior to 1500 that contain references to the Young surname. The English document 'Calendar of Documents Relating to Scotland' mentions a Roger Yung. It describes Yung as a "Scottish gentleman" who, along with a number of other Scots, committed an offence against English King Edward III during David II's reign (1329-1371). It goes on to say that on October 10, 1335, Roger Yung was released from the Tower of Berwick.There are records of a John Young, a tenant farmer near Moffat in 1343, and a different John Young, a farmer in Raynpatrick in 1374. A record of a Roberto (Robert) Yong from Roxburghshire who had some sort of role in the transfer of ownership of a barony in 1466 can be found in the Registrum Cartum Abbacie Tironensis de Kelso (Register of the Charters of the Abbey of Kelso).

The Parliamentary Rolls of 1587 contain one of the earliest records of Border Clans, but the Youngs are not mentioned for one reason or another. There is no obvious reason for this, but it has been suggested that they were simply not large enough Crown landholders at the time. Although not all historians agree. However, 'Moneypenny's Chronicle,' first published in 1597, mentions the Youngs as a prominent Borders family.

Moneypenny suggests that the Youngs were tenants of Lords or large abbeys in the area rather than Crown tenants, which is why they were not included in the Parliamentary Rolls ten years before.The Youngs were known as 'Gentlemen' at the time, a title used in Britain to distinguish them from the commoners of the area. The term 'gentleman' meant that the person was landed or descended from a landed family, not that he acted in a gentlemanly manner.

The Youngs were one of the families who lived practically on the border with England, a region that witnessed some of the bloodiest battles in British history. Within 25 miles of the Young heartland, several major battles were fought, including Halidon Hill in 1333, Otterburn in 1388, Homildon Hill in 1462, Flodden Field in 1513, Ancrum Moor in 1545, Reidswire in 1575, and Philiphaugh in 1645. This means that the Young family almost certainly played a role in these major historical battles over the course of centuries.

Young people in the Northeast

Youngs held a variety of important positions in the northeast, including sheriffs and military leaders. They were given many lands and lived in a number of well-appointed castles, including Auldbar.

The name was first recorded in 1325 by a John Young in Strachan, Kincardineshire, who received a charter to the lands and castle of Carmylie, in Angus.

Richard Young was granted the lands of Ardin and Thorne between 1325 and 1327 in exchange for his services in defending Forfar. Ralph Young was one of the first Lord Provosts of Crail around the same time.

Peter Young was born in Dundee in 1544, the son of a merchant. He was appointed tutor to the infant King James VI in 1569 and later Almoner to the King. After many years of service in various embassies, he was knighted in 1605.

Sir Peter had several children, one of whom, Peter, worked at the Swedish Embassy, and another who was granted extensive land in Ireland, where the name is now found in the counties of Londonderry, Antrim, Tyrone, and Down.

Another son, James, became a Gentleman of the King's Bedchamber and had a son, Peter II, later in life. Peter II bought the Barony of Auldbar near Angus in 1670, which the family held for three generations. After Robert II was said to have accidentally drowned while swimming just a few days before his wedding, Auldbar was sold to the Chalmers family in 1753. The clan's chiefship has been vacant since this time.

James Young, born in 1811, was a successful Young in recent history. He was a successful chemist, most notably for discovering how to extract paraffin from coal and shale.

George Younger, born in 1851, rose to the position of chairman of the brewing firm founded by his great-grandfather of the same name. He went on to become a successful politician and was appointed 1st Viscount Younger of Leckie in 1923. His great-grandson was also George Younger (4th Viscount of Leckie), who served in Thatcher's government as Secretary of State for Scotland and Defence Secretary before becoming chairman of the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Young Places & People

Clan Young Locations

Auldbar Castle was destroyed in 1965.

Durris House was purchased by James 'Paraffin' Young.

Young Clan Members

Young, James (1811-1883)

Scottish chemist best known for developing a method for extracting paraffin from coal. James Young was born in Glasgow's Drygate neighborhood, the son of cabinetmaker and joiner John Young. At a young age, he became his father's apprentice and attended night school. He also met and befriended the famous explorer David Livingstone while at college; this friendship would last until Livingstone's death in Africa many years later.

Mr. James Young

Young was appointed manager of James Muspratt's chemical works in Newton-le-Willows, near St Helens, Merseyside, in 1839, and of Tennants, Clow & Co. in Manchester in 1844.In 1845, he served on a Manchester Literary and Philosophical Society committee investigating potato blight, and proposed immersing potatoes in dilute sulphuric acid to combat the disease.

Young left Tennants' in 1848 to start a small business refining crude oil with his friend and assistant Edward Meldrum. Young bought out his business partners in 1865 and built works at Addiewell, near West Calder, before selling the company to Young's Paraffin Light and Mineral Oil Company in 1866. The company expanded and grew, selling paraffin oil and paraffin lamps all over the world and earning its founder the affectionate nickname 'Paraffin' Young. Other companies worked under Young's license, and paraffin production spread throughout the south of Scotland.

Young, Andrew John (1885-1971)

A Presbyterian minister who later became an Anglican clergyman, he was a Scottish poet and writer on botanical subjects. He was born in Elgin and educated in Edinburgh, where he attended school before moving on to Edinburgh University and New College for theological studies. In 1912, he was ordained in the United Free Church of Scotland.

He later relocated to Hove, Sussex, in 1920. He joined the Church of England and was appointed vicar of Stonegate in Sussex. He was appointed as a canon of Chichester Cathedral. He left the company in 1959.

His poet status was only recognized in the 1950s.

Young, Angus McKinnon (born 1955)

AC/DC's lead guitarist, songwriter, and co-founding member. He is well-known for his wild, energetic stage performances and schoolboy-uniform stage attire. He was ranked 96th among the "100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time" by Rolling Stone. Born in Glasgow, Scotland, to William and Margaret Young, he was raised in Sydney, Australia, alongside his older brothers Malcolm, George, and Alex, all of whom became musicians.

Young was a member of a local band called Kantuckee before joining AC/DC. AC/DC was founded in 1973 by Angus and Malcolm Young. Young developed his trademark schoolboy image after playing with the band for a while. The original uniform was allegedly from his secondary school in Sydney, Ashfield Boys High School. Although Young prefers to keep his personal life private, it is known that he currently resides in Sydney, Australia, and also has a home in Aalten, Netherlands.

Young Tartans

Young Modern

Young Weathered

Young Crest & Coats of Arms

Crest of the Young Clan

Crest: A demi lion issuant, Gules, holding a sword, Proper

Coats of Arms of Clan Young:

A word about Coats of Arms:

A coat of arms is granted to an individual under Scottish heraldic law (with the exception of civic or corporate arms). A 'family coat of arms' does not exist. With the exceptions noted above, the arms depicted below are personal arms. Only the person who grated these arms has the authority to use them.