Show ContentsApen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

On the Scottish west coast, the Apen family was born among the ancient Dalriadan clans. Their name comes from the son of the blond one, or son of Alpin.

Early Origins of the Apen family

The surname Apen was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where they were descended from King Kenneth MacAlpin who was murdered by the Picts near Dundee in the year 834. MacAlpin is generally considered to have been the first king to rule both Scots and Picts, and as such, was the first king of Scotland.

Further to the south, the variant Alby hailed from Alby, a parish, in the union of Aylsham, hundred of South Erpingham, E. division of Norfolk. "This place, which was anciently called Oslby, is intersected by the road from Aylsham to Cromer, and includes the hamlets of Alby Common and Alby Hill." 1

Early History of the Apen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Apen research. Another 193 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1395, 1405, 1531, 1557, 1658, 1692 and 1725 are included under the topic Early Apen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Apen Spelling Variations

In various documents Apen has been spelled Since medieval scribes still spelled according to sound, records from that era contain an enormous number of spelling variations. MacAlpine, MacAlpin, MacAilpein (Gaelic) and others.

Early Notables of the Apen family

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

Ireland Migration of the Apen family to Ireland

Some of the Apen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 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 Apen family

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: Robert MacAlpin, who settled in New York State in 1740; William MacAlpine settled in New York in 1774; Hugh and James MacAlpin settled in New York in 1811. James Alpin was registered as a United Empire Loyalist..



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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