ALLEN
This is a copy of an article published in
The Peak Advertiser, the Peak District's local free newspaper,
on 19th March 2001,
reproduced by kind permission of the author, the late Desmond Holden.
The “What's in a Name” series was a regular
feature in the Advertiser over the period 1993‑2004,
taking a refreshing look at the derivation of some typically
Derbyshire surnames.
Articles are confined to the origins and meanings of surnames,
and do not indicate any particular interest on Desmond's part in
the genealogy, descent, or family history of individuals bearing
the surnames featured.
Editor's Note: Articles are provided for general interest and
background only. They are not intended to provide an exhaustive treatise
for any individual family history - investigations of which may yield
quite different results. Or, in Desmond's own words:
“In the end it must remain with individual bearers of the names to
draw upon family traditions and to seek out such documentary
evidence as is available to decide the matter for themselves.”
WHAT'S IN A NAME …
Are you called ALLEN?
There are some 40 variations of this surname but they nearly
all stem from the Celtic personal name "Alan". By "nearly
all" attention is drawn to the fact that in a few cases some
forms have evolved from the Germanic "adel" (modern: edel)
which means "noble". It is usually identified through being
pronounced "al-En and not "A'ln".
Otherwise "Alan" is extremely old and has long been
established in Britain. There are several possible sources.
Families with Scots associations can relate their surnames to
the Gaelic "ail" meaning "rock". It is found in place-names
such as "Alloa" (the rock-strewn plain: Clackmannon). When
used in surnames, the diminutive "ailin" was adopted: i.e.
"little rock". Converted to a personal name it signifies "one
who is steadfast". Its Celtic counterpart south of the border
is now obscure but lurks in names such as "Llaneilian" which
means "the place (Ilan) of (St.) Eilian" which is in
Anglesey. Here the reference is to a "St. Alan" but, along
with a Cornish saint of the same name in the vicinity of
Poldhu (?) little is known of either.
During the fifth and sixth centuries a large number of Celtic
people from Wales and the south-western peninsula made their
way across the channel to settle in north-western France. At
one time the region was called "Armorica" but acquired the
name "Brittany" on account of the new immigrants. Naturally
they brought with them much of their Celtic vocabulary. Even
today typical words appear in modern French dictionaries,
such as "dolmen" and "cromlech". In the cast of personal
names, they are known to have introduced "Alan". This name
particularly attached itself to a certain "St. Alanus" who
was a Bishop of Quimper (Finisterre). There are hosts of
legends about him but nothing positive. The most that can be
said is that since the Bishopric had been established in 453
A.D. by St. Corentin (a verified saint who is commemorated
locally: 12th December) it is likely that Alaunus had been so
highly regarded as to be made his successor. A cult under his
name long flourished in the region. There is also a
tantalising reference to "Alan, King of Brittany" (683 A.D.)
More extensive uses of the name occur during the tenth
century. One is "Alanus" and the other is "Alamnus". It is
suggested that "Alanus" is a corruption of "Alamnus"
and would have described the neighbouring Germanic
tribes who had also begun to infiltrate the region. It means
"All the Men" (i.e. of the tribe) and survives in the French
for Germany - Allemagne.
Consequently many of the followers of William the Conqueror
came from this region and were descendants of Britons who had
established themselves during the previous 500 years. It
would not be correct to say they brought back the name, nor
would it be right to say they re-introduced it here since it
had never entirely fallen out of use. However, although it
had lost some of its former appeal, it rapidly recovered it
and by the end of the thirteenth century one boy in six bore
some version of the name. Its popularity may have been
enhanced through its resemblance to the Anglo-Saxon Name. It
is now found as "Elwyn" (though "Alwyn" prevails in the
States. It signifies "the worthy friend." There are plenty of
examples of "Alan" as a personal name in the early records -
e.g. "Alanus" (Domesday: Suffolk: 1086) and "Alain Fergeant"
was Count of Brittany. He assisted William in the invasion
and was awarded the earldom of Richmond.
The first appearance of its use as a surname occurs in
Cambridge (1234) and refers to a "Geoffrey Alain". There is a
"Roger Alain" in York (1246) and also a "John FitzAlan" of
the same place (1416). The name was also popular in Scotland,
especially on account of its being adopted regularly by the
Stuart family. As a surname it first appears in Aberdeen
(1446) and is to "Duncan Alowne" while there had long been
innumerable examples of "FitzAleyne". The first is "John fiz
Aleyn" (Montrose: 1296).
All the numerous variations in the spelling really reflected
local pronunciation and how medieval scribes tried to
reproduce it. Individual families must decide which form of
spelling they prefer and take whatever steps are possible to
determine where they originated.
In accordance with Scots practice "Mac" is often used. While
"McAlan" is easily identified, a form such as "McKellen" less
so. The name was exported to Ireland by the Normans and then
later settlers and usually appears as "Alleyn". More
specifically Irish are "Hallinan" and "0 hAillin". The
standard biographies list well over 50 personalities bearing
forms of this surname. Most of them are so eminent in their
own fields that it must be left to the judgement of readers
to make a selection.
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© Desmond Holden
From "The Peak Advertiser", 19th March 2001.
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