Alemann History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

The name Alemann comes from the Rhineland, an ancient region of Germany. In pre-medieval times, the Germans used only one name, but later they were forced by a growing population to adopt hereditary surnames, so as to remain distinct from others using the same personal (first) name. Local names derived from place names, were often chosen. They originally indicated land ownership, and frequently carried the prefix von, meaning "of" or "from", which is often taken as an indication of aristocratic lineage. Alemann was a name for some one lived in the Rhineland which is derived from the Germanic tribal name Alemanni, which means all the men. The Alemanni, who originally inhabited the Rhineland, played a large role in the early tribal conflicts of the area and they engaged in bitter battles with the Franks for domination of territory. The English variation Alemann is also the name for someone from Germany, derived from the Anglo-Norman French word aleman, which means German, or Allemagne, which means Germany. In some cases, the name may have been from the southern regions of France that border Germany, such as Norman region of Allemagne which was named by the Germanic settlers there, or Alsace-Lorraine. Alman is also a Jewish Ashkenazic surname taken by a widower. In the Middle Ages, the Alemann family played an influential role in the social, economic and political development of the territories of the Rhineland.

Early Origins of the Alemann family

The surname Alemann was first found in the Rhinelands, where the name contributed greatly to the development of an emerging nation which would later play a large role in the tribal and national conflicts of the area. In later years the name branched into many houses, each playing a significant role in the local social and political affairs. The name is associated with the Alsace-Lorraine region on the southern French-German border; the Alemanns were the Germanic tribes that anciently inhabited this region.

Early History of the Alemann family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alemann research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1602, 1662, 1682, 1683, 1691, 1696, 1814 and 1850 are included under the topic Early Alemann History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alemann Spelling Variations

Many cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Alemann include Alemann, Allemann, Aleman, Alemand, Allemand, Alemanns, Allemang and many more.

Early Notables of the Alemann family

Notables with the name Alemann during this period were

Johann Martin Alemann, descendant of a Magdeburg noble family, who was ennobled as mayor of this city in 1602, a title recognized in Prussia

Alemann migration to the United States +

Between the 17th and 20th centuries, hundreds of thousands of Europeans came to North America, and many Rhinelanders were among them. They had many various reasons for making the choice: to escape poverty and persecution, for adventure, and for the opportunity to own their own land. Ellis Island, one of the main American immigration centers, saw many settlers as they moved on to the states of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, California, and New York. In Canada, they found homes in Ontario, and on the great plains of the Midwestern provinces. The Alemann were among of the early German families that came to North America:

Alemann Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ernest Alemann, who settled in Philadelphia in 1853

Contemporary Notables of the name Alemann (post 1700) +

Dr. Roberto Alemann (b. 1922), former Argentinean Minister of the Economy, as well as former Ambassador to the United States
Eduardo A Alemann, composer of classical guitar from Argentina
Ernesto Alemann (1893-1982), the editor-in-chief and publisher of the family newspaper Argentinisches Tageblatt