Show ContentsAllitt History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Allitt

What does the name Allitt mean?

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor and may be a form of the name Eliot. 1 However, another source claims the name is from the Old French name Aalot or Allot. 2

"Aluiet, [was] a tenant in chief; and Aliet, a Saxon tenant in the Domesday Book." 3 4

Early Origins of the Allitt family

The surname Allitt was first found in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk where the singular name Alote was recorded c. 1191. A few years later, Adam filius Alot was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1203 in Lincolnshire. The Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire lists William Allot as holding lands there in 1275 and in Sussex, Walter Alote was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1296. 2

Rylands Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1332 includes entries for William Afotessone, Lancashire; Phillip Allote, Huntingdonshire; and Peter Allot, Cambridgeshire. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 includes two entries for the family: Adam Alot; and Richard Alot. 1

Early History of the Allitt family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Allitt research. Another 271 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1199, 1212, 1273, 1286, 1332, 1379, 1568, 1579, 1581, 1587, 1590, 1591, 1600, 1707, 1750 and 1781 are included under the topic Early Allitt History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Allitt Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries. For that reason, spelling variations are common among many Anglo-Norman names. The shape of the English language was frequently changed with the introduction of elements of Norman French, Latin, and other European languages; even the spelling of literate people's names were subsequently modified. Allitt has been recorded under many different variations, including Allott, Allett, Allette, Hallott, Arlette, Arlett, Allet, Alett, Alet, Allatt, Alatt, Allat, Allatte, Allot, Allote, Alot, Alitt, Ailet, Alyet, Alletson, Aletson, Alotessone and many more.

Early Notables of the Allitt family

John Allott, Lord Mayor of London in 1591, one of the highest political posts in England at that time. William Allott (d. 1590?), was an English Catholic divine. A native of Lincolnshire, he received his education in the University of Cambridge, though he does not appear to have graduated. When Queen Elizabeth came to the throne, he retired to the continent, and took up his residence at Louvain, where he studied divinity for some years and was ordained priest. He afterwards lived for...
Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Allitt Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Allitt family

To escape the uncertainty of the political and religious uncertainty found in England, many English families boarded ships at great expense to sail for the colonies held by Britain. The passages were expensive, though, and the boats were unsafe, overcrowded, and ridden with disease. Those who were hardy and lucky enough to make the passage intact were rewarded with land, opportunity, and social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families went on to be important contributors to the young nations of Canada and the United States where they settled. Allitts were some of the first of the immigrants to arrive in North America: Peter Allott who settled in Virginia in 1655; Andrew Hallet settled in Virginia in 1620; about the time of the "Mayflower," followed by Andrew Hallett in Massachusetts in 1635.



  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)


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