NameCensus.

UK surname

Youngson

An English surname meaning "young son" or "son of the younger one."

In the 1881 census there were 374 people recorded with the Youngson surname, ranking it #8,364 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 763, ranked #7,188, up from #8,364 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Peterhead, Newhills and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Peterhead Harbour, Westhill North and South and Peterhead Ugieside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Youngson is 763 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 104.0%.

1881 census count

374

Ranked #8,364

Modern count

763

2016, ranked #7,188

Peak year

2016

763 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Youngson had 374 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,364 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 763 in 2016, ranked #7,188.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 550 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Youngson surname distribution map

The map shows where the Youngson surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Youngson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Youngson over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 242 #9,001
1861 historical 277 #9,025
1881 historical 374 #8,364
1891 historical 485 #7,607
1901 historical 550 #7,533
1911 historical 147 #18,104
1997 modern 668 #7,513
1998 modern 682 #7,628
1999 modern 689 #7,612
2000 modern 696 #7,523
2001 modern 681 #7,513
2002 modern 708 #7,444
2003 modern 674 #7,621
2004 modern 671 #7,665
2005 modern 700 #7,344
2006 modern 709 #7,283
2007 modern 719 #7,277
2008 modern 723 #7,301
2009 modern 737 #7,351
2010 modern 753 #7,360
2011 modern 732 #7,454
2012 modern 740 #7,303
2013 modern 752 #7,327
2014 modern 761 #7,281
2015 modern 759 #7,232
2016 modern 763 #7,188

Geography

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Where Youngsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Peterhead, Newhills, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry, Cruden and Sculcoates. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Peterhead Harbour, Westhill North and South, Peterhead Ugieside, Peterhead Links and Ythanside. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Peterhead Aberdeen
2 Newhills Aberdeen
3 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
4 Cruden Aberdeen
5 Sculcoates Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Peterhead Harbour Aberdeenshire
2 Westhill North and South Aberdeenshire
3 Peterhead Ugieside Aberdeenshire
4 Peterhead Links Aberdeenshire
5 Ythanside Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Youngson

These lists show first names that appear often with the Youngson surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Youngson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Youngson, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Youngson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Youngson household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Youngson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

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Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Youngson is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Youngson falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Youngson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Youngson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Youngson

The surname Youngson has its origins in Scotland, specifically in the northern regions. It dates back to at least the early medieval period, tracing its roots to a time when surnames began to be used to distinguish individuals with similar first names. The name is a patronymic surname, derived from the personal name "Young," which itself comes from the Old English "geong," meaning young or youthful. The suffix "son" signifies "son of Young," implying descent from an ancestor with that name.

The areas where the surname Youngson was originally found include Aberdeenshire and other parts of northeastern Scotland. These regions were inhabited by various clans and families that adopted surnames based on the names of their forebears. The name Young itself was likely used to denote a younger member of a family or a recent descendant, a common practice for distinguishing individuals in a community.

Historical references to the surname Youngson are sparse but significant. In medieval records, the name appears sporadically, usually in legal documents and charters. For instance, a William Youngson is mentioned in a charter dated 1456, recorded in the Aberdeen Council Register. Such documentation provides early evidence of the name's establishment in Scottish society.

The earliest recorded examples of the surname typically appear in parish records and tax rolls. One notable individual is John Youngson, who is listed in the Elgin parish records in 1620. These early records often used various spellings of the name, including Youngsoun and Yongsoun, reflecting the fluid nature of orthography at the time.

Among the notable bearers of the surname, George Youngson, born in 1780 and died in 1853, stands out. He was a respected minister in the Church of Scotland, known for his theological writings and contributions to ecclesiastical history. Another prominent figure is Alexander Youngson, a 19th-century landowner and philanthropist in Aberdeenshire, who played a significant role in local agricultural developments.

In the literary world, Robert Youngson, an early 20th-century Scottish poet, gained recognition for his contributions to regional literature, often depicting the landscapes and culture of northern Scotland in his works. The surname also appears in more recent historical contexts, with individuals like James Youngson, a noted historian born in 1925, who extensively researched medieval Scottish history until his death in 1980.

These historical references highlight the longstanding presence and impact of the Youngson family in Scotland. The evolution of the surname from "son of Young" into a recognized family name reflects broader trends in the formation of hereditary surnames during the medieval period in Britain. The legacy of the Youngson name is preserved through historical documents, literary contributions, and the enduring influence of its bearers on Scottish history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Youngson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Youngson surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Aberdeenshire leads with 219 Youngsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 65.17x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 219 65.17x
Yorkshire 30 0.83x
Banffshire 22 29.23x
Lanarkshire 17 1.45x
Northumberland 14 2.59x
Angus 13 3.87x
Midlothian 11 2.26x
Morayshire 9 15.96x
Middlesex 8 0.22x
Kincardineshire 7 15.84x
Perthshire 7 4.30x
Monmouthshire 6 2.29x
Durham 2 0.19x
Hertfordshire 2 0.80x
Argyllshire 1 0.99x
Ayrshire 1 0.37x
Channel Islands 1 0.93x
Fife 1 0.47x
Peeblesshire 1 5.86x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 67 Youngsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 95.50x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 67 95.50x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 30 47.71x
Newhills 26 377.91x
Peterhead 18 101.29x
Dyce 11 758.62x
Rillington 11 1009.17x
Marnoch 10 247.52x
Tyrie 10 236.97x
Drainie 8 160.32x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 8 24.81x
Dundee 7 5.58x
Keith 7 87.28x
Kilspindie 7 813.95x
Thorpe Bassett 7 2916.67x
Aberdour 6 226.42x
Banchory Devenick 6 145.28x
Barony 6 2.02x
Belhelvie 6 260.87x
Pitsligo 6 186.92x
Shotts 6 42.74x
Foveran 5 196.85x
New Deer 5 82.24x
Rathen 5 142.05x
Cruden 4 92.38x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 2.05x
Glasgow 4 1.92x
Montrose 4 19.64x
Rayne 4 250.00x
South Leith 4 7.31x
St Woollos 4 13.66x
Udny 4 196.08x
Westgate 4 11.97x
Bromley London 3 3.76x
Flaxton 3 652.17x
Grange 3 136.36x
Hackney London 3 1.47x
Kintore 3 102.74x
Scampston 3 1000.00x
Bedwellty 2 4.32x
Cottingham 2 25.81x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 2 17.39x
Glanton 2 322.58x
Inverkeithny 2 173.91x
Kemnay 2 98.04x
Kirk Ella 2 454.55x
Liff Benvie 2 3.92x
Poplar London 2 2.92x
Slains 2 127.39x
Sunderland 2 10.49x
Watford 2 10.31x
Birnie 1 217.39x
Crimond 1 97.09x
Edinburgh St Johns 1 32.57x
Fetteresso 1 14.45x
Forgan 1 24.27x
Fyvie 1 18.25x
Govan 1 0.34x
Holy Trinity 1 1.16x
Kilmore Kilbride 1 15.60x
Longside 1 24.94x
Monquhitter 1 28.74x
Peebles 1 19.84x
Scarborough 1 3.06x
St Sampson 1 20.62x
Straiton 1 64.94x
Strichen 1 34.25x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Youngson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Youngson surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

FAQ

Youngson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Youngson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 374 people were recorded with the Youngson surname. That placed it at #8,364 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Youngson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 763 in 2016. That gives Youngson a modern rank of #7,188.

What does the Youngson surname mean?

An English surname meaning "young son" or "son of the younger one."

What does the Youngson map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Youngson bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.