Show ContentsAle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Ale

What does the name Ale mean?

This surname is derived from a geographical locality as in 'of the Alley,' i.e. from residence in a narrow passage from the Middle English aley and alley. 1 2 3

Early Origins of the Ale family

The surname Ale was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Alli was listed in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Staffordshire. 4 The next entry for the family was found in Norfolk, where early records there show Johannes filius Alli in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1205. In Cumberland, Hugo, son of Ally was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1332 and Alice Ally was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275. Richard Ally was a Freeman of York in 1352. 5 Simon de Ally, Lancashire was listed in the Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 recorded Walter Alleye, Oxfordshire and John Alley, Cambridgeshire. 1

Early History of the Ale family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ale research. Another 206 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1041, 1046, 1092, 1153, 1166, 1451, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1539, 1543, 1570, 1600, 1623, 1706, 1726 and 1810 are included under the topic Early Ale History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ale Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Ale include Alye, Allye, Allie, Alley, Aley, Allee, Aleigh and many more.

Early Notables of the Ale family

William Alley (1510?-1570), English divine, Bishop of Exeter, a native of Chipping Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. "Early in the reign of Queen Elizabeth he became divinity reader at St. Paul's, London, and admirably performed the duties...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ale Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Ale migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Ale or a variant listed above:

Ale Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Ale, who landed in Virginia in 1664 7
  • Ino Ale, who arrived in Virginia in 1665 7
Ale Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Catherine Ale, who landed in Virginia in 1705 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Ale (post 1700) +

  • Ale Moeller (b. 1955), Swedish musician and composer


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
  7. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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