Show ContentsAlderman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The history of the name Alderman dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It is derived from a member of the family who worked as a duke, magistrate, or chief. 1

Early Origins of the Alderman family

The surname Alderman was first found in Lincolnshire in eastern England. One of the first records of the family was Jukel Alderman, Sheriff of London, 1194 and this may the same Jacob Alderman, who was Sheriff of London, 1199. 2 James Alderman was Lord Mayor of London in 1216. And the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Robert le Alderman, Norfolk. 2

Early records of the name mention Adam de Alderman, 1200, London. John Alderman was documented in County Sussex, in the year 1175. Jukel Alderman was the Sheriff of London in the year 1194 as was Jacob Alderman in 1194. In the year 1273 Aldermann' de Bretford was recorded in the County of Sussex.

In the same year Robert le Alderman was registered in the County of Norfolk and Benjamin Aldermannus in the County of Sussex. Thomas Alderman, was the rector of St. Buttolph, Norwich, in the year 1388. 3

Early History of the Alderman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alderman research. Another 32 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1194 and 1691 are included under the topic Early Alderman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alderman Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Alderman has undergone many spelling variations, including Aldreman, Alderman, Elderman, Aelderman and others.

Early Notables of the Alderman family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Jukel Alderman, Sheriff of London in the year 1194, one of the earliest records of a London sheriff...

Alderman Ranking

In the United States, the name Alderman is the 2,815th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 4


Alderman migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Alderman were among those contributors:

Alderman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Alderman, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1634 5
  • Grace Alderman, who arrived at the age of 22 in Virginia in 1635, soon after the Plymouth settlement
  • Grace Alderman, aged 22, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Paul" 5
  • John Alderman, who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1637 5
  • William Alderman, who landed in Connecticut in 1671 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Alderman Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Richard Alderman, who arrived in 1770
Alderman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Peter Alderman, aged 32 arrived in Boston in 1820
  • Joseph Alderman, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 5

Alderman migration to Australia +

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

Alderman Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Alderman a farmer, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lloyds" in 1838 6
  • Fanny Alderman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lloyds" in 1838 6
  • Charles Alderman a mason, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lloyds" in 1838 6
  • Mary Alderman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lloyds" in 1838 6
  • Lucy Alderman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lloyds" in 1838 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Alderman (post 1700) +

  • Grady Alderman (1938-2018), American football player and executive, Denver Broncos General Manager
  • George P. B. Alderman (1862-1929), American architect, active in western Massachusetts and Connecticut
  • Pauline Alderman PhD. (1893-1983), American musicologist and composer
  • Edwin Anderson Alderman (1861-1931), American educator, president of three American universities: 1st President of University of Virginia; Tulane University; and University of Virginia
  • Clifford Lindsey Alderman (1902-1988), American historical novelist
  • Rob Alderman (b. 1974), American musician
  • Frederick Alderman (1905-1998), American Olympic athlete
  • Ernest C. Alderman (b. 1895), American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Burlington, 1921-22 7
  • Elliott Alderman (1860-1942), American Democratic Party politician, First Selectman of Burlington, Connecticut, 1906; Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Burlington, 1910, 1918 7
  • Carlotta Townsend Alderman (1882-1967), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 1948, 1952, 1956 7
  • ... (Another 19 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. George E.  Alderman, English Senior Gunner aboard the SS Curaca from London, England , United Kingdom who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 8
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. W H Alderman, British Chief Engine Room Artificer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 9
Senghenydd colliery
  • Mr. Frederick Alderman (b. 1868), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 10


The Alderman 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: Semper Floreat
Motto Translation: May it always flourish


Suggested Readings for the name Alderman +

  • Your Family and Mine by Mattie Ellen Brown Trube.

  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. 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)
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LLOYDS from London 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Lloyds.htm
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  8. 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
  9. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  10. Universal Colliery Senghenydd 1913 disaster retrieved 21st September 2019, retrieved from http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/deathrolls/SenghenyddDead1913.htm


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