Show ContentsAllison History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Clan from whom the Allison family descends began among the ancient Dalriadan kingdom of the west coast of Scotland. Their name comes from the name for the son of "Ellis" or Ellis' son. Conversely, the surname could be is derived from "Alice" as in "the son of Alice." It is likely though that the name was derived from "Ellis" rather than the female personal name. [1] [2]

But Black goes on stating there is some dispute as to the origin: "On the other hand, with reference to Scottish Alison or Allison, Mr. L. A. Morrison in his The History of the Alison or Allison family in Europe and America, Boston, 1893, says that it is 'a fact beyond doubt that Alison comes from Alister or Alexander, and, further, that the Alisons are offshoots of the famous clan of MacAlister" (p. 4), and that the origin of the name is due to two sons of Alexander MacAlister of Loupe who with some of their followers escaped to the parish of Avondale, Lanarkshire, during the War of Independence, and there later their name was changed from MacAlister to Alison (p. 18). He further states that 'the names Alison, Allison, Alinson, Allinson, and of Elison, Ellison, Elissen, Ellysen, are found thus spelled in the early history of some branches of the present Allison family. They are interchangeably mixed. The name was often spelled Ellison and Allison when referring to the same individual.' " [1]

Early Origins of the Allison family

The surname Allison was first found in the county of Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they acquired some time before 1300 the territories of their family seat at Loupe. They were descended from Angus Mor MacDonnell, Lord of the Isles, their Gaelic name was MacAllister, and it is difficult through history to distinguish one name from the other.

One of the first clear records of the family was "Patrick Alissone del counte de Berewyk rendered homage, 1296." [1] This is an early record of Patrick's swearing allegiance to King Edward I of England, shortly after his invasion of Scotland.

Continuing, we found "Peter Alesoun was a witness in Brechin, 1490 (REB,, II, 134), Thomas Alesoun appears in Lochtoun, Scone, 1586 (Scon, p. 232), James Allasone was bailie of Ranfrew, 1688 (RPC., 3. ser. XIII, p. 243), and Gabriel Alason was bailie of the burgh of Dumfries, 1693." [1]

Early History of the Allison family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Allison research. Another 42 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1314 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Allison History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Allison Spelling Variations

Historical recordings of the name Allison include many spelling variations. They are the result of repeated translations of the name from Gaelic to English and inconsistencies in spelling rules. They include Allison, Alison, Alinson, Allinson, McAllister, MacAllister, Ellison and many more.

Early Notables of the Allison family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

  • Patrick Allisone of Lanarkshire

Allison World Ranking

In the United States, the name Allison is the 495th most popular surname with an estimated 57,201 people with that name. [3] However, in Australia, the name Allison is ranked the 702nd most popular surname with an estimated 5,570 people with that name. [4] And in New Zealand, the name Allison is the 434th popular surname with an estimated 1,547 people with that name. [5] The United Kingdom ranks Allison as 483rd with 13,348 people. [6]

Ireland Migration of the Allison family to Ireland

Some of the Allison family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Allison migration to the United States +

Significant portions of the populations of both the United States and Canada are still made up of the ancestors of Dalriadan families. Some of those in Canada originally settled the United States, but went north as United Empire Loyalists in the American War of Independence. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the ancestors of many Scots on both sides of the border begin to recover their collective national heritage through Clan societies and highland games. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Allison Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • James Allison who settled in Boston in 1644
Allison Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Andrew Allison, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1750 [7]
  • Andrew Allison who settled in Philadelphia in 1750 with his two brothers named James and Robert
  • William Allison who settled in Pennsylvania in 1764 and was one of the first to examine political strategy
  • Jean Allison who settled in Salem, Massachusetts in 1775
  • Archibald Allison, who arrived in North Carolina in 1776 [7]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Allison Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Edward Duffin Allison, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 [7]
  • John Allison approved the constitution on behalf of Pennsylvania, and Francis Allison, a great classical scholar had a conspicuous role in educating the American mind to the thought of independence
  • Andrew Allison, who arrived in New York in 1830 [7]
  • Elihu Allison, who arrived in Texas in 1835 [7]
  • Andrew Allison, who landed in Mississippi in 1845 [7]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Allison migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Allison Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Allison Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Allison, aged 1 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Washington" departing 9th July 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 26th August 1847 but he died on board [9]

Australia Allison migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Allison Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Isabella Allison, (b. 1804), aged 22, Irish country servant who was convicted in Omagh, County Tyrone, Ireland for 7 years for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Brothers" on 3rd October 1826, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed as having 1 child [10]
  • Ann Allison (alias Miller), Scottish convict from Edinburgh, who was transported aboard the "Amphitrite" on August 21, 1833, settling in New South Wales, Australia [11]
  • Mr. Joseph Allison, Sr., British Convict who was convicted in Cumberland, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 20th July 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [12]
  • Mr. Joseph Allison, Jr., British Convict who was convicted in Cumberland, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 20th July 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [12]
  • Thomas Allison, English convict from London, who was transported aboard the "Anson" on September 23, 1843, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [13]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Allison migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Allison Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • C Allison, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • Mr. Allison, Australian settler travelling from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia aboard the ship "Brilliant" arriving in New Zealand in 1841 [14]
  • James Allison, aged 30, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duchess of Argyle" in 1842
  • Margaret Allison, aged 30, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duchess of Argyle" in 1842
  • Margaret Allison, aged 10, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duchess of Argyle" in 1842
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Allison (post 1700) +

  • Jerry Ivan Allison (1939-2022), American musician, best known as the drummer for The Crickets and co-writer of their hits "That'll Be the Day" and "Peggy Sue", recorded with Buddy Holly, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012
  • Mose John Allison Jr. (1927-2016), American jazz blues pianist, singer and songwriter
  • Keith Allison (1942-2021), American singer and bassist, best known for his with Paul Revere & the Raiders
  • Abraham Kurkindolle Allison (1810-1893), American politician, Member of Florida territorial legislature, Governor of Florida, 1865 [15]
  • Lodowick Brodie Cobb "Wick" Allison (1948-2020), American magazine publisher and author, owner of D Magazine
  • Winfield Scott Allison, American Republican politician, Presidential Elector for Illinois, 1908 [15]
  • William H. Allison Jr., American politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Kentucky, 1972 [15]
  • William N. Allison, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Hancock County, 1972 [15]
  • William Francis Allison (1892-1945), American politician, Delegate to Montana convention to ratify 21st amendment, 1933 [15]
  • William F. Allison, American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in Guantanamo, 1884 [15]
  • ... (Another 84 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halifax Explosion
  • Miss Jean M.  Allison (1875-1917), Canadian Teacher at School for Blind from Chocolate Lake, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries [16]
  • Mr. James B.  Allison (1877-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [16]
  • Mr. Brenton  Allison (1882-1917), Canadian resident from Three Mile Plains, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [16]
HMAS Sydney II
RMS Titanic
  • Master Hudson Trevor Allison, aged 11 mths, Canadian First Class passenger from Montreal, Quebec who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 11, the only survivor of the family [18]
  • Miss Helen Loraine Allison (d. 1912), aged 2, Canadian First Class passenger from Montreal, Quebec who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [18]
  • Mr. Hudson Joshua Creighton Allison (d. 1912), aged 30, Canadian First Class passenger from Montreal, Quebec who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett [18]
  • Mrs. Bessie Waldo Allison (d. 1912), (née Daniels,) aged 25, Canadian First Class passenger from Montreal, Quebec who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [18]
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Andrew K. Allison, American Fireman First Class from Missouri, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking [19]
  • Mr. J. T. Allison, American Fireman First Class from Missouri, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking [19]


Suggested Readings for the name Allison +

  • Early Osbornes and Alleys by Rita Kennedy Sutton.
  • Allison, Dewees, Johnson, Scruggs and Other Related Families by Judith Allison Walters.

  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  6. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  7. 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)
  8. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  9. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 64)
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/brothers
  11. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Amphitrite voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1833 with 99 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/amphitrite/1833
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th February 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1837
  13. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anson voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1843 with 499 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anson/1843
  14. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  15. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  16. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  17. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  18. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  19. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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