This proposed etymology is that youngman is in turn related to Old Norse ungmenni (youths); North Frisian ongman (lad, fellow); Dutch jongeman (youngman); and German Jungmann (deckhand, ordinary seaman); cf. also German Junker ⇐ jung[er] Herr. This etymology provides a plausible semantic link from yongerman to youngman, while at the same time providing most of the earliest definitions of yeoman.
This proposed etymology is that youngman is in turn related to Old Norse ungmenni (youths); North Frisian ongman (lad, fellow); Dutch jongeman (youngman); and German Jungmann (deckhand, ordinary seaman); cf. also German Junker ⇐ jung[er] Herr. This etymology provides a plausible semantic link from yongerman to youngman, while at the same time providing most of the earliest definitions of yeoman.