Alas History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The distinguished surname Alas was first brought to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name is matronymic in origin, deriving from the name of the mother of the original bearer. This name is derived from the Old French personal names "Aalis" or "Aliz," which are diminutives of the Old Germanic "Adalhaidis," meaning "noble person."

Early Origins of the Alas family

The surname Alas was first found in the northeastern counties of England, where it occurred fairly frequently as a personal name in the years immediately following the Norman Conquest. The first known bearer of the surname was Willelmus filius Alis, who was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1214.

Early History of the Alas family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alas research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1214, 1219, 1221 and 1273 are included under the topic Early Alas History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alas Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Alas are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Alas include Alis, Alise, Allies, Allis, Alliss, Allish, Alais, Hallis and many more.

Early Notables of the Alas family

More information is included under the topic Early Alas Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Alas family to Ireland

Some of the Alas family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Alas family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Alas, or a variant listed above: Richard Allis, who arrived in Boston in 1632; Ellen Alice, who settled in Virginia in 1635; as did Mary Alice in 1650; Joseph Allis, who immigrated to Massachusetts in 1688.

Contemporary Notables of the name Alas (post 1700) +

José Luis Escobar Alas (b. 1959), Salvadoran bishop
Leopoldo Alas (1852-1901), Spanish author

The Alas Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Vincit veritas
Motto Translation: Truth conquers.