Astlan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

Etymology of Astlan

The name Astlan was carried to England in the enormous movement of people that followed the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Astlan family lived in Huntingdon. The name is also derived from the ancient baptismal name Ansell. That name is derived from the Germanic elements ans, meaning god, and helm, meaning protection or helmet. It derived some popularity from the fact that it was borne by a number of famous medieval churchmen. Notably, St. Anselm (c.1033-1109), the Benedictine monk was known as "the father of Scholasticism."

Early Origins of the Astlan family

Early History of the Astlan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Astlan research. Another 151 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1086, 1273, 1390, 1399, 1551, 1557, 1725 and 1782 are included under the topic Early Astlan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Astlan Spelling Variations

Endless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Aslin, Aslen, Aslan, Asslin, Aslein, Ascelin, Asselin, Asselyn, Astlen, Aslyn, Asling and many more.

Early Notables of the Astlan family

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

Migration of the Astlan family

To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Astlan or a variant listed above: John Aslein, who sailed to New York in 1811; and John Asslin, who was recorded in Ontario in 1879.