Alye History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Alye

What does the name Alye 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 Alye family

The surname Alye 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 Alye family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alye 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 Alye History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alye Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Alye are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Alye include: Alye, Allye, Allie, Alley, Aley, Allee, Aleigh and many more.

Early Notables of the Alye 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 Alye Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Alye family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Alye or a variant listed above: 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..

Sources +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)