Young

Scottish Clans

Young Tartans & Clan

The Young clan tartan represents one of Scotland's most ancient Border families, whose heritage spans from medieval Roxburghshire holdings to distinguished service across the British Empire in America, Canada, and beyond.

Clan Motto

Robore Prudentia Praestat
(Prudence Excels Strength)

Heritage & Identity

Who Wears Young Tartan?

Worn by Young descendants worldwide, sept families including Yong, Youing, and Jung bearers, Border regiment veterans, and Scottish heritage enthusiasts across America, Canada, and Britain.

Associated Names

Yong

Youing

Yonge

Younge

Jung

Yung

Yeung

Youn

Yon

MacYoung

MacIllYoung

Military Heritage

Associated Regiments

Young clansmen served with honor in Border regiments, Scottish cavalry units, and distinguished British Army formations, excelling in North American campaigns and colonial service throughout the Empire.

King's Own Scottish Borderers

Royal Scots Greys

Black Watch (Canada)

Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders (Canada)

Gordon Highlanders

Scots Guards

Shop Young Tartan Products

Explore authentic Young clan merchandise including traditional kilts, Highland dress accessories, clan badges, tartan ties, ceremonial items, and heritage gifts for descendants across North America.

Young Tartans

0 Variations

Each tartan can feature several variations, with the most common being Ancient, Modern, Weathered, Hunting and Dress.

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Ancient Tartan

Before 1860, all fabric dyes came from nature — plants, berries, bark, and insects. The colours they produced were softer and more muted than what we're used to today: think mossy greens, dusty sky blues, and reds with a warm, orangey tone. A lot of people actually prefer Ancient tartans for this reason — the gentler contrasts let the pattern breathe and stand out in a way that bolder colours sometimes don't. Worth knowing: the pattern itself, called the sett, is exactly the same across all variations of a tartan. It's only the colours that change.

The Young Story

Four centuries of history woven into every thread

Border Origins

The Young clan established its Scottish roots in the Border region during the 12th century, when Anglo-Norman settlers arrived in Roxburghshire under David I's reign. The family first appears in records at Aldcambus in East Lothian, where they held lands as vassals of the Crown. Early clan members included William Young, documented in 1296 as swearing fealty to Edward I, demonstrating their significant status in medieval Scotland. The Youngs became established Border landholders, weathering the turbulent Wars of Scottish Independence while maintaining their territorial holdings. Their strategic position in the Borders made them key players in Anglo-Scottish conflicts, with clan members serving as sheriffs and bailies throughout the region during the 13th and 14th centuries.

Expansion & Border Wars

During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Young clan expanded their influence throughout the Scottish Borders, establishing cadet branches in Berwickshire and Peeblesshire. The family demonstrated remarkable resilience during the Border Reiver period, when clan members engaged in both legitimate trade and traditional cattle raiding across the Anglo-Scottish frontier. Notable clan figures included John Young of Aldcambus, who served as Sheriff of Berwick, and his kinsmen who established themselves as respected Border lairds. The Youngs weathered the religious upheavals of the Reformation while maintaining their Protestant faith and Border traditions. Their strategic marriages with neighboring Border families strengthened clan influence, creating networks that would prove vital during the Union of Crowns in 1603.

Where does the name Young come from?

Young derives from the Anglo-Saxon and Middle English word 'yong' or 'yung,' meaning 'young' or 'junior,' typically given to distinguish a younger son from his father or a younger member of the family. The surname became established in the Scottish Borders during the 12th century, where Norman and Saxon settlers adopted descriptive names. In Scotland, the name often indicated the younger branch of a family line, becoming hereditary as clan structures developed across Roxburghshire.

Empire & Military

The 18th century marked Young clan expansion beyond Scotland's borders, with family members achieving prominence in military service and colonial ventures. Captain James Young distinguished himself in the Seven Years' War, serving in North American campaigns alongside Highland regiments. Meanwhile, clan members emigrated to the American colonies, establishing Young settlements in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and the Carolinas. Following the American Revolution, many Loyalist Youngs relocated to Canada, founding communities in Nova Scotia and Ontario. The clan produced notable military officers, including Colonel Alexander Young, who served with distinction in the Napoleonic Wars. Young merchants and professionals established themselves in Edinburgh and Glasgow, contributing to Scotland's economic growth during the Industrial Revolution.

Industrial Age & Diaspora

Throughout the 19th century, Young clan members embraced opportunities in the expanding British Empire while maintaining their Border heritage. The family produced distinguished engineers, including James Young, the renowned Scottish chemist who pioneered petroleum refining and became known as 'Paraffin Young.' Clan members served as colonial administrators in India, Australia, and Canada, while others established successful businesses in major Scottish cities. The Highland Clearances and economic opportunities drove Young emigration to America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, where descendants established thriving communities. Military service remained a clan tradition, with Youngs serving in Highland regiments during the Crimean War, Indian Mutiny, and various colonial campaigns across the Empire.

The Young tartan embodies centuries of Border heritage, from Roxburghshire strongholds to global achievements, woven in patterns worn with enduring Scottish pride.

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