Aldus History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Aldus

What does the name Aldus mean?

The vast movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought the Aldus family name to the British Isles. Aldus comes from the Old English given name Aldus. Ald, the first part of the name, means old.

Early Origins of the Aldus family

The surname Aldus 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

Early History of the Aldus family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Aldus research. Another 36 words (3 lines of text) covering the year 1284 is included under the topic Early Aldus History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Aldus Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Aldis, Aldous, Aldhouse, Aldus, Aldiss, Oldis and many more.

Early Notables of the Aldus family

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

Migration of the Aldus family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Aldus 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..

Contemporary Notables of the name Aldus (post 1700) +

Aldus Manutius (1450-1515), Italian scholar/printer

Sources +

Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.