Show ContentsAlly History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Ally

What does the name Ally mean?

This surname is derived from a geographical locality as in 'of the Alley,' i.e. from residence in a narrow passage from the Middle English aley and alley. 1 2 3

Early Origins of the Ally family

The surname Ally was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Alli was listed in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire and Staffordshire. 4 The next entry for the family was found in Norfolk, where early records there show Johannes filius Alli in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1205. In Cumberland, Hugo, son of Ally was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1332 and Alice Ally was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire in 1275. Richard Ally was a Freeman of York in 1352. 5 Simon de Ally, Lancashire was listed in the Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. 6

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 recorded Walter Alleye, Oxfordshire and John Alley, Cambridgeshire. 1

Early History of the Ally family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ally research. Another 206 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1041, 1046, 1092, 1153, 1166, 1451, 1455, 1487, 1510, 1539, 1543, 1570, 1600, 1623, 1706, 1726 and 1810 are included under the topic Early Ally History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ally Spelling Variations

Ally has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Spelling variants included: Alye, Allye, Allie, Alley, Aley, Allee, Aleigh and many more.

Early Notables of the Ally family

William Alley (1510?-1570), English divine, Bishop of Exeter, a native of Chipping Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. "Early in the reign of Queen Elizabeth he became divinity reader at St. Paul's, London, and admirably performed the duties...
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ally Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ally family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Allys to arrive on North American shores: Catherine Alyea, who was on record in Ameliasburgh in the census of Ontario of 1861; Sus Allie, who came to Virginia in 1690; and John Allie, who arrived in Canada in 1818..


Contemporary Notables of the name Ally (post 1700) +

  • Ally Begg (b. 1972), Scottish former model, boy band member and author
  • Ally Gallacher (1909-1964), Scottish football manager
  • Ally McCoist (b. 1962), Scottish soccer player
  • Ally Milder, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Nebraska 2nd District, 1990 7
  • Ally Mack, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1980 8


  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. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  4. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 3) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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