Ailart History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The history of the name Ailart goes back those Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled over Britain. Such a name was given to a person considered to be brave and noble. 1 2

Early Origins of the Ailart family

The surname Ailart was first found in Norfolk and Northampton where they were recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086. Adelard was an under tenant of lands at that time. 3 "Adelhard was a cousin of Charlemagne, and Abbot of Corbie." 4

Adelardus (without surname) is also listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. Adam Adelard was found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Cambridgeshire. The same rolls include Simon filius Aderlard, Lincolnshire. In Somerset, John Athelard was listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 5 Later John Adelard was documented in 1327 in Yorkshire, and Richard William Adlard was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. 4

In Gloucestershire, early Pipe Rolls listed Roger Aillard (1205) and Richard Alard (1209). Nicholas Adelard was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275 and Stephen Eyllard was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296. Richard Athelard was found in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 for Cambridgeshire and William Athelard was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1327. 2

"Adelard of Bath was a 12th century writer on philosophy, of English birth, flourished about the beginning of the twelfth century. His English name was Æthelhard. His native place is said to have been Bath; but of the facts of his life little is known beyond the few references to travels contained in his own writings, and an entry in the Pipe Roll, 31 Henry I. " 6

Early History of the Ailart family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ailart research. Another 70 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1505 and 1794 are included under the topic Early Ailart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ailart Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Ailart family name include Aelheard, Adelard, Adlard and others.

Early Notables of the Ailart family

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

Migration of the Ailart family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that early immigrants bearing the name Ailart or a variant listed above: James Adlard who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the year 1876; but shortly afterward moved to the west. Paul and William Allard had landed in the year 1767.

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print