Young / Younger
Young was accepted by CDSNA as a sept in January 1984 with Younger as a variant based on a request for inclusion by Edward A Young, III and research by Arthur L. Douglas.
Clan Young is an armigerous (arms-bearing) Scottish clan without a standing chief and is not recognized by The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.
In an article found in Dubh Ghlase [XI, 1] in 1985, pertaining to ‘Young of Tayside’,
“Upon due recommendation of Arthur L. Douglas, following due petition, the Board of Directors of Clan Douglas Society of North America has accepted the Scottish descent of ‘Young’ as a sept of the Society.”
“According to Scots Kith & Kin, the name of Young dates back to Moray, Angus, etc., 14th century. The name Younger dates back to Fife, etc., 14th century. According to Nesbit the Youngers are of the same stock as Young, ‘by their arms’.
The traditional Young Arms bear ‘on a chief gules two stars of the field’. Similar arms are found in 1344 in the seal of Sir William Douglas, of Liddesdale, Lord of Dalkeith and known as ‘The Flower of Chivalry’. As he died without a male heir the Arms descended to Sir Henry Douglas of Lugton and Lochleven. Descending: Sir William Douglas of Lochleven became 7th Earl of Morton on the death of the 8th Earl of Angus and the titles of Marquis of Douglas and Earl of Angus passed to the 7th Duke of Hamilton. Recalling the association of Young with Angus even to the 14th century, it would seem that the family of Young would be a part of the family Douglas – by their arms.”
In the Young Surname History published by the Clan Young Society Australia,
The earliest documented occurrence of the name was a John Young in Strachan, Kincardineshire who received a charter to the lands and castle of Carmylie, in Angus in 1325. Between 1325 and 1327, Richard Young was granted the lands of Ardin and Thorne for services given defending Forfar.
By 1389 Forfar was a possession of the Douglases. Prior to that, Forfar was a holding of the Stewarts. The Castle of Forfar was torn down by Robert ‘The Bruce’ in 1308.
In April of 1987, Clan Young was shown as a dormant Clan in the Highlander magazine. Edward A Young III, CDSNA Young/Younger sept commissioner, contacted the Lord Lyon in Scotland and asked to convene Clan Young. Permission was granted. Col. Gordon A. Young and Russell A. Smith assisted with the resurrection of Clan Young.
On its website, Clan Young claims…
The Clan Young Society is a charitable and social organization. Its objectives are to establish, promote and increase kinship and good fellowship among the descendants of ancestral Youngs of Scotland, including Sir Peter Young and the Youngs of Auldbar, the Youngs of Lenie, of Eastfield, of Lindbank, the Youngs of the Border, and other Youngs of Scotland. It also strives to research their history and genealogy within Scotland and worldwide, and to foster and promote a common understanding and friendship with those of similar ancestry and minds around the world. Society membership is composed of men and women who are descendants of any Scottish person surnamed Young, together with anyone with an interest in the Youngs of Scotland, their history, and things Scottish.
On January 1, 1992, The Scottish Tartans Society granted a Certificate of Accreditation for the Young tartan. It is similar to the Douglas tartan, of which we have long been a sept, with the stripe of the Christina Young tartan replacing the stripe of white.
It would be interesting to see a copy of the recommendation given by Arthur L. Douglas and the petition received by the CDSNA Board of Directors. One or both of these documents may contain more information about the connection of Young(er) to Douglas.
Sources:
Clan Young. http://clanyoung.tripod.com
Clan Young. http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/stoz/young2.html
Edward A. Young, III. “Young of Tayside – Family Association.” Dubh Ghlase XI.1 (1985). Print.
The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs. http://www.clanchiefs.org/p/members.html
Young Surname History. http://clanyoungaustralia.org/documents/YoungSurnameHistory.pdf