Alis History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Alis

What does the name Alis mean?

The distinguished surname Alis was first brought to England in the wake of the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name is matronymic in origin, deriving from the name of the mother of the original bearer. This name is derived from the Old French personal names "Aalis" or "Aliz," which are diminutives of the Old Germanic "Adalhaidis," meaning "noble person."

Early Origins of the Alis family

The surname Alis was first found in the northeastern counties of England, where it occurred fairly frequently as a personal name in the years immediately following the Norman Conquest. The first known bearer of the surname was Willelmus filius Alis, who was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of Bedfordshire in 1214.

Early History of the Alis family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alis research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1214, 1219, 1221 and 1273 are included under the topic Early Alis History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alis Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Alis, Alise, Allies, Allis, Alliss, Allish, Alais, Hallis and many more.

Early Notables of the Alis family

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

Migration of the Alis family to Ireland

Some of the Alis family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 39 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Alis family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Alis or a variant listed above: Richard Allis, who arrived in Boston in 1632; Ellen Alice, who settled in Virginia in 1635; as did Mary Alice in 1650; Joseph Allis, who immigrated to Massachusetts in 1688.

Contemporary Notables of the name Alis (post 1700) +

Alis Rasmussen (b. 1958), American writer known by the name Kate Elliott

The Alis 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: Vincit veritas
Motto Translation: Truth conquers.