Show ContentsAlanson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The surname Alanson is a patronymic surname, derived from the given name Alan, meaning little rock. Patronymic surnames were created from the name of a male relative, usually of the father. As a given name, Alan beamed popular due to the Welsh and Breton saint, St. Alan.

Early Origins of the Alanson family

The surname Alanson was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat at Richmond, but following the pattern of many Norman and Breton families, junior branches of this distinguished name moved northward over the border into Scotland. They appeared to have settled in Dumbartonshire in Scotland.

Early History of the Alanson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alanson research. Another 228 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1320, 1447, 1463 and 1469 are included under the topic Early Alanson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alanson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Allanson, Alanson, Allansone, Alansone, Allansoune and many more.

Early Notables of the Alanson family

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


United States Alanson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Alanson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Arthur Alanson, who landed in New York in 1837 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Alanson (post 1700) +

  • Ann Alanson (b. 1926), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 1960 (alternate), 1964; Member of Democratic National Committee from California, 1965-67 2
  • Henry Alanson Barnum (1883-1892), United States Civil War general from New York, recipient of the Medal of Honor
  • Brigadier-General Nathaniel Alanson Burnell (1897-1976), American Assistant Chief of Staff (G-4), 2nd Army (1947-1950) 3
  • Alburtis Alanson Carley (b. 1833), American Republican politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Cortland County, 1881-82; Chair of Cortland County Republican Party, 1886-90 4
  • Alanson Bigelow Houghton (1863-1941), American businessman, politician, and diplomat, United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom (1925-1929), United States Ambassador to Germany (1922-1925)
  • Alanson Morris, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Kirksville, Missouri, 1866-69
  • Alanson Woodworth, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Seneca County, 1846 5
  • Alanson Doty (1800-1866), American politician, Supervisor of Pitt Township, Michigan, 1836-37
  • Alanson Skinner (1794-1876), American politician, Member of New York State Senate 21st District, 1850-51 6
  • Alanson Hamlin, American politician, Mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut, 1838-39 7


The Alanson 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: Virtute et labore
Motto Translation: By valour and exertion.


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  3. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) Nathaniel Burnell. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Burnell/Nathaniel_Alanson/USA.html
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, December 9) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, August 17) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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