The name Altass was brought to England in the great wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from the Old English given name Aldus. Ald, the first part of the name, means old.
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Early Origins of the Altass family
The surname Altass was first found in the counties of Norfolk, Suffolk and Lincolnshire in the south east of England, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. Soon after, Rudolphus Aldous was recorded in Yorkshire in 1168 as holding considerable estates and lands, and Robert Aldous was recorded in Norfolk in 1230.
"Aldous is an ancient east country name which at present has its principal home in and around Harleston in this county, though still found in Ipswich and Stowmarket. Aldus was the name of an Ipswich bailiff in 1654 (W.), and the name of Aldhuse was established in Stowmarket in the reign of Elizabeth (H.). In the forms of Aldus and Alduse it occurred in the reign of Edward I. in Norfolk, Notts, Lincolnshire, and Oxfordshire (H. R.). We learn from Blomefield's "Norfolk" that Aldous was the name of the rector of Wreningham in that county in 1393, and that Thomas Aldous of Starston, Norfolk, died in 1740 at the age of 100: Aldhouse is also an old Norfolk name." 1
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Early History of the Altass family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Altass research. Another 36 words (3 lines of text) covering the year 1284 is included under the topic Early Altass History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Altass Spelling Variations
A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Aldis, Aldous, Aldhouse, Aldus, Aldiss, Oldis and many more.
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Early Notables of the Altass family
More information is included under the topic Early Altass Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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Migration of the Altass family
Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Altass or a variant listed above: Nathan Aldis who settled in Massachusetts, 1640; he was made freeman 1640 and was a Deacon of the town. He died March 15; 1670; had at least two sons from which many of the North American family name descended..
England
