First found in the county or parish of Caen in Normandy, where it is believed to have departed and accompanied Duke William at the time of the Conquest of England in 1066.

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, travelling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Elman or a variant listed above: John Allman who settled in Philadelphia in 1764; Simon Alman in 1709; Stephen Almand in 1749; H. Almand in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1820.

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