Allen Family Crest and Name History

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Allen PDF Surname History


The Ancient History Of The Distinguished Surname Allen

Allen

Contents

Allen history with Allen Family Crest
Suggested Readings for Allen
Surname Notables

About Family Crests

Allen Products

Origins Available: English, French, Irish

Where did the English Allen family come from? What is the English coat of arms/family crest? When did the Allen family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

The name of the Allen family is derived from the given name Alan, which is thought to mean "little rock" or "headstone." The name was popular among the Breton followers of William the Conqueror due to St. Alan, a 5th-century bishop from Quimper, Brittany; during the Middle Ages, parents often named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint.

Since the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules, Breton surnames have many spelling variations. Latin and French, which were the official court languages, were also influential on the spelling of surnames. The spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules. Therefore, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England after the Norman Conquest, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. The name has been spelled Alan, Allan, Allen, Alleyn, Allayne, Allaine, Allain, Allanach, Allanshaw, MacAllan and many more.

First found in the lands of Shropshire, where Walter FitzAlan of Brittany was seated after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Investigation of immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Allen: John Allan, who settled in Virginia in 1622; Anne Allen, who arrived in Boston in 1635; John Allan, who immigrated to Virginia in 1685; as did Alice Allen in 1689.

For more information on the last name Allen, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.

Suggested Readings for the name Allen

The Allen Family: Descendants of John and Amy Cox Allen with Allied Lines by Lester M. Allen.
Allen and Allied Families by Dorris Allen O'Neal Dunn.

Some noteworthy people of the name Allen

William Hervey Allen Jr. (1889-1949), American writer, poet, and professor
Gracie Allen (1905-1964), American entertainer who grew famous for her comedy act with her husband George Burns
Irwin Allen (1916-1991), Academy Award-winning film producer and director
Steve Allen (1921-2000), well-known and prolific American actor, writer, and comedian
Joan Allen (b. 1956), American stage and screen actress
Edward Patrick Allen (1853-1926), American, Fifth Bishop of Mobile, Alabama
George Allen (b. 1952), American politician, Governor of Virginia (1994-1998), and US Senator from Virginia (2001-)
William McPherson Allen (1900-1985), the president of the Boeing Company from 1945-1970 and chairman between 1970 and 1972
Chad Allen (b. 1975), American baseball player
Florence Ellinwood Allen (1884-1966), American judge and feminist
James Lane Allen (1849-1925), American novelist
Henry Allen, American Pulitzer Prize (2000) winning journalist and critic
George Allen (1832-1907), English publisher and engraver
Ralph Allen (1694-1764), English philanthropist
Walter Allen (b. 1911), English novelist and critic
William Allen (1532-1594), English prelate
Dave Allen (b. 1936), Irish born comedian who hosted comedy-variety television programs
Sir George Oswald Browning "Gubby" Allen (1902-1989), Australian cricket player
Sir Harry Brookes Allen (1854-1926), Australian pathologist

Tell Me More About Family Crests

Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist

We have researched the Allen family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.

Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...

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Family Crests: Timeline

Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...

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Family Crests: Elements

In the Allen coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...

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Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate

We encourage you to study the Allen genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...

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Allen Family Crest Products

Anniversary

Anniversary products for the name Allen.

Apparel

Apparel proudly displaying the Allen coat of arms.

Armorial histories

Armorial histories for the name Allen.

Ceramics

Ceramics with the coat of arms for the name Allen.

Clip art

Clip art of all the most used heraldic pieces.

Coat of Arms

Coat of Arms for the name Allen.

Downloads

Downloads proudly displaying the Allen coat of arms.

Family Crest

Family Crest for the name Allen.

Family Tree

Family Tree emphasing the Allen family crest.

Hand Painted Plaques

Hand Painted Plaques with a Allen family crest.

Keychains

Keychains featuring the Allen family crest.

Mouse pads

Mouse pads with the coat of arms for the name Allen.

New Products

New Products proudly displaying the Allen coat of arms.

Packages

Packages revealing the family crest for the surname Allen.

Plaques and Frames

Plaques and Frames emphasing the Allen family crest.

Surname Histories

Surname Histories for the name Allen.

Symbolism

Symbolism displaying the family crest for the name Allen.

Travel Mugs

Travel Mugs displaying the Allen family crest.

Popular Products
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The Allen Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Allen Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.