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.
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.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.
Young is the 34th most common surname in the USA, 49th most common in England & Wales, and 19th most common in Scotland.
Notable individuals with the surname Young include:
A Ace Young (born 1980), singer and American Idol (Season 5) finalist from Colorado, United States Adam Young (disambiguation), several people Adrian Young (born 1969), American member of the band No Doubt Adrian Young (American football) (born 1946), American football player Adrian Young (footballer) (1943–2020), Australian rules footballer Adrienne Young, American singer-songwriter from Nashville Al Young, American poet, novelist, essayist, screenwriter, and professor Alan Young, British-born Canadian-American actor, comedian, and radio and television host Sir Alban Young, 9th Baronet (1865–1944), British envoy to Central America and to Balkan countries Aleana Young, Canadian politician Alex Young (disambiguation), several people Alexander Young (disambiguation), several people
Allen Young (1827–1915), English master mariner and explorer Allen Young (writer) (born 1941), American journalist and writer Allyn Abbott Young (1876–1929), American economist Alse Young (1615–1647), American alleged witch Alton Milford Young (1884–1950), American leader of the Ku Klux Klan Alvin Young (born 1975), American expatriate professional basketball player Amanda Young, fictional character in the Saw film series Amita Marie Young (born 1980), Thai singer and actress Ammi B. Young (1798–1874), American architect Dr. Dre (born Andre Young in 1965), American rapper/hip-hop producer Andre Young (American football) (born 1960), football player Andre Young (basketball) (born 1990), American basketball player Andrew Young (disambiguation), several people Angus Young (born 1955), lead guitarist of the Australian band AC/DC Anna Irwin Young (1873–1920), American mathematician Annabel Young (born 1956), New Zealand politician Anne Sewell Young (1871–1961), American astronomer and professor
Archie Young (disambiguation), several people Aretas William Young (1778–1835), British Army officer and colonial administrator of the early nineteenth century Arthur Young (disambiguation), several people Artie Young (fl. 1930s–1940s), African-American dancer and actress Ashley Young (born 1985), English football player Audrey Young (1922–2012), American actress Austin Young (born 1966), American artist/photographer Avery Young (born 1992), American football player
B Barbara Young (disambiguation), several people Barbara Young, Baroness Young of Old Scone (born 1948), British politician Bellamy Young (born 1970), American television actress and singer Bert Young (Herbert Young, 1899–1976), English footballer Bill Young (1930–2013), Florida congressman Bill Young (New Zealand politician) (1913–2009), New Zealand politician Bob Young (businessman), Canadian CEO of Red Hat Brad Young (disambiguation), several people Brandon Young (disambiguation), several people Brian Young (drummer), American member of Fountains of Wayne Brigham Young (1801–1877), American second President of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Brigham Young Jr. (1836–1903), son of the above, American missionary and church leader
Bryan Young (disambiguation), several people Bryant Young (born 1972), American football player Bryce Young (born 2001), American football player Buddy Young (1926–1983), American football player Burt Young (1940–2023), American actor Byron Young (disambiguation), multiple people
C
Carey Young (born 1970), British artist Carleton Young (1905–1994), American actor Carl Young (storm chaser) (1968–2013), American meteorologist and storm chaser Carlson Young (born 1990), American actress Cathy Young (born 1963), American journalist Charle Young (born 1951), American football tight end Charles Augustus Young (1834–1908), American astronomer Charles Burney Young (1824–1904), South Australian pastoralist and politician Charles E. Young (1931–2023), chancellor of UCLA (1968–1997), president of the University of Florida (1999–2003) Charley Young (born 1952), American football running back in the National Football League Charlie Young (disambiguation), several people Chase Young (born 1999), American football player Chase Young (cricketer) (born 1988), South African cricket player Chavez Young (born 1997), Bahamian professional baseball player Chic Young (1901–1973), American cartoonist who created the popular, long-running comic strip Blondie Chris Young (disambiguation), several people Christopher Young (born 1957), American film and television composer Cliff Young (disambiguation), several people Clinton Young (born 1986), Australian rules footballer Colbie Young (born 2002), American football player Cole Young (born 2003), American baseball player Coleman Young (1918–1997), former mayor of Detroit Colville Young (born 1932), Governor General of Belize Craig Young (disambiguation), multiple people Curt Young (born 1960), Major League Baseball pitcher and the pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox Curtis Young (born 1986), American football member of the National Football League Cy Young (1867–1955), American Major League Baseball Hall-of-Fame pitcher
D Damon Young, Australian philosopher Daniel Young (cricketer) (born 1990), English cricketer Danny Young (basketball) (born 1962), American basketball player Danny Young (actor) (born 1986), UK actor Danny Young (pitcher, born 1971), American baseball player Danny Young (pitcher, born 1994), American baseball player Dareke Young (born 1999), American football player Darin Young (born 1973), American darts player Darren Young (disambiguation), several people Darrel Young (born 1987), American football fullback Darwin Young (1924–2020), American politician David Young (disambiguation), several people David Young, Baron Young of Graffham (1932–2022), British Conservative politician and businessman Dean Young (disambiguation), several people Delwyn Young (born 1982), American baseball player Delmon Young (born 1985), baseball player Derek Young (born 1980), Scottish professional footballer Desi-Rae Young (born c. 2002), American basketball player Dmitri Young (born 1973), baseball player Donald Young (disambiguation), several people Don Young (1933–2022), Alaskan politician Donald Young (baseball) (born 1945), baseball player Donald Young (tennis) (born 1989), professional tennis player from the United States Doug Young (politician) (born 1940), Canadian politician Doug Young (ice hockey) (1908–1990), former ice hockey defenceman Draff Young, former National Basketball Association coach
E
Ed Young (illustrator) (1931–2023), Chinese-born American children's illustrator Homer Edwin Young (Ed Young Sr., born 1936), American pastor Edwin Barry Young (Ed Young Jr., born 1961), American pastor Edward Young (disambiguation), several people, including: Edward Young (1683–1765), English poet Eleanor Anne Young (1925–2007), American research scientist and educator Emily Young (disambiguation), several people Ephraim W. Young, Wisconsin pioneer, politician Eric Young (born 1985), guitarist/vocalist of the Canadian rock band Still Life Still Eric Young Jr. (born 1985), American baseball player and coach Eric Young Sr. (born 1967), American baseball player and coach Ernest Young (disambiguation), several people Esme Young (born 1949), English fashion designer
Ethel Louise Young (1883–1974), better known as Mary Forbes, British-American actress Evelyn Young (1915–1983), American film actress Ewing Young (1799–1841), American fur trapper and trader
F Faron Young (1932–1996), American country music singer Fernanda Young (1970−2019), Brazilian writer, television presenter, and actress Fifi Young (1914–1975), Indonesian actress Francis Brett Young (1884–1954), English novelist, poet, playwright, and composer Frank A. Young (sportswriter) (1884–1957), American journalist and sportswriter Fred Young (disambiguation), several people Fredd Young (born 1961), professional American football linebacker Freddie Young (1902–1998), British cinematographer Frederick Young (disambiguation), several people
G Gale J. Young (1912–1990), American nuclear engineer Galen Young (1975–2021), American professional basketball player Gary Young (disambiguation), several people Geoff Young (born 1956), American perennial candidate George Young (disambiguation), several people Gerald Young (disambiguation), several people G. M. Young (1882–1959), British historian Gig Young (1913–1978), American actor Gordon Young (artist) (active 1992–), British artist Grace Chisholm Young (1868–1944), British mathematician Graham Young (1947–1990), British serial killer Greg Young (disambiguation), several people Gruffydd Young (1370–1435), cleric and a close supporter of Owain Glyndwr during his Welsh rebellion
H H. Olin Young (1850–1917), U.S. politician from Michigan Harold Young (disambiguation), several people Harriet Maitland Young (1838–1923), British composer Harry Young (disambiguation), several people Henry Young (disambiguation), several people Herbert J. Young, American college basketball and football coach Horace C. Young (1806–1879), New York politician Howard Young (disambiguation), several people
I Irad Young (born 1971), American-Israeli soccer player Iris Marion Young (1949–2006), American political theorist Irwin Young (1927–2022), American businessman Ivonne Young (1943–2025), Panamanian politician Izzy Young (1928–2019), American folk music promoter
J Jack Young (disambiguation), several people Jackie Young (disambiguation), several people Jacob Young (disambiguation), several people Jahmar Young (born 1986), American basketball player in the Israeli National League Jake Young (American football) (1968–2002), American football player James Young (disambiguation), several people Jane Young (disambiguation), several people Jared Young (born 1995), Canadian baseball player Jason Young (born 1980), Thai actor and singer Jason Young (born 1981), American discus thrower Jeff Young (born 1962), American guitarist Jeremy Young (1934–2022), British actor Jerome Young (born 1976), American sprint athlete Jess Young (1851–1909), English traveller and Australian explorer Jesse Colin Young (1941–2025), American singer and songwriter Jessie Young (1900–1987), American radio commentator and magazine publisherHowes, 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. .Birkby, Evelyn (1991). "Jessie Young". Neighboring on the Air : Cooking with the KMA Radio Homemakers. Iowa City: University of Iowa Press. pp. 38–39. . Jim Young (disambiguation), several people Jimmy Young (1918–1974), Northern Irish comedian and actor Jo-Anne H. Young, American physician, scientist, and journal editor Joe Young (disambiguation), several people John Young (disambiguation), several people