Alfred History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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England

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The Anglo-Saxons of Britain first developed the name Alfred. It was a name given to someone who was a personal name Alfred. which literally means elf counsel.

Early Origins of the Alfred family

The surname Alfred was first found in Kent and originated there, and is one of the oldest Saxon names. The family name, originally Alured is shown in the Domesday Book compiled in 1086, as a holder of lands in Kent even after the Norman invasion of 1066 by Duke William.

Alfred of Beverley (fl. 1143), was an early English chronicler and a priest of Beverley. He is described in the preface to his book as 'treasurer of the church of Beverley.' "He speaks of himself as contemporary with the removal of the Flemings from the north of England to Ross in Herefordshire in 1112. " 1

Early History of the Alfred family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alfred research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) covering the year 1155 is included under the topic Early Alfred History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alfred Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Alfred have been found, including Alfred, Allfred, Alured, Aelfred, Alverd and others.

Early Notables of the Alfred family

Notables of the family at this time include

Alfred of Kent

Alfred Ranking

In the United States, the name Alfred is the 4,520^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2 However, in France, the name Alfred is ranked the 6,673^rd most popular surname with an estimated 1,000 - 1,500 people with that name. 3

Alfred migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Alfred, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were:

Alfred Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Moses Alfred, who landed in Maryland in 1675 4

Alfred Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Robert Alfred, aged 22, who arrived in Virginia in 1773 4
Robert Alfred who settled in Virginia at the age of 22 in 1774

Alfred Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

George Alfred, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1870

Alfred migration to Australia +

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

Alfred Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Alfred, (b. 1818), aged 20, Irish carpenter who was convicted in Carlow, Ireland for 7 years for house breaking, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 29th December 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1839 5

Alfred migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Alfred Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Delisle Alfred, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Anne Longton" in 1860 6
Alfred M., who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oxford" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Alfred (post 1700) +

Mike Alfred, South African poet
Jean Alfred Ph.D (1940-2015), Canadian politician, Member of the National Assembly of Quebec for Papineau (1976-1981)
Arnold Montague Alfred, Director of British Printing Corporation
Charles Alfred Pillsbury (1842-1899), American co-founder of C.A. Pillsbury and Company with his uncle John Sargent Pillsbury in 1872
Henry Alfred Kissinger (1923-2023), German-born American diplomat, US Secretary of State, 1973 Nobel Peace Prize laureate and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Sir Henry Alfred McCardie (1869-1933), controversial British judge
Richard Alfred Marquand (1937-1987), Welsh film and television director
Peter Alfred Penfold CMG, OBE (1944-2023), British diplomat who was the youngest governor of the British Virgin Islands and was High Commissioner to the Republic of Sierra Leone
Gordon Alfred Tidman QC (b. 1932), Canadian lawyer, politician and jurist who represented the electoral district of Kings West in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly from 1967 to 1971
Roy Alfred Roper (1923-2023), New Zealand rugby union player. Member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1949 to 1950. He later served as treasurer of the Taranaki Rugby Football Union from 1952 to 1971