The surname Allen is of English, Scottish, and Irish origin. It is derived from the medieval personal name "Alan," which itself is of Celtic origin. The name Alan is believed to be derived from the Old Breton name "Ailin," meaning "little rock" or "harmony." The surname Allen is a patronymic form of the given name Alan, meaning "son of Alan." It is one of the most common surnames in the English-speaking world, with a rich and diverse history.
In England, the surname Allen can be traced back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon period. The name was first recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Alanus" or "Alain." During the medieval period, the Allen family held estates in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Surrey. The surname Allen was also found in Scotland, where it was brought by Norman settlers in the 12th century.
One of the most famous bearers of the surname Allen in England was Ethan Allen, an American Revolutionary War hero who led the Green Mountain Boys in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga in 1775. The Allen family has a long history of military service in England, with many individuals serving in the armed forces throughout the centuries.
In Scotland, the surname Allen is believed to have originated in the 12th century, when it was brought to the country by Norman settlers. The Allens of Scotland were a prominent clan with strong ties to the royal court. The surname Allen is also common in Ireland, where it is of Anglo-Norman origin. Many Allen families in Ireland can trace their ancestry back to the Norman invaders of the 12th century.
One of the most famous Scottish Allens was William Allen, a Catholic cardinal who played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation in Europe. The Allen family in Ireland also produced many notable individuals, including John Allen, a renowned Irish poet and playwright.
The surname Allen is one of the most common surnames in the English-speaking world, with a high incidence in countries such as South Africa, the United States, and Honduras. According to data from the World Names Profiler, the surname Allen has the highest incidence in South Africa, where it is the 607th most common surname. In the United States and Honduras, the surname Allen is the 74th most common, while in Nigeria, it is the 29th most common.
The surname Allen is also prevalent in countries such as Latvia, England, Australia, and the Bahamas, where it ranks among the top 100 most common surnames. In countries such as India, Nicaragua, and Russia, the surname Allen is less common but still found among the population.
Throughout history, the surname Allen has been borne by many notable individuals in various fields. In literature, notable Allen authors include Woody Allen, a renowned American filmmaker and playwright, and David Allen, a British author and productivity consultant. In music, Lily Allen, a British singer-songwriter, has gained international fame for her catchy pop songs.
In sports, Marcus Allen, a former American football player, and Ray Allen, a retired professional basketball player, have left a lasting legacy in their respective sports. In politics, George Allen, a former governor of Virginia, and Debbie Allen, a British politician and environmentalist, have made significant contributions to public service.
Overall, the Allen surname has a rich and diverse history, with widespread popularity and distribution across the globe. It is a name that carries a strong legacy of achievement and success, with many notable individuals bearing the Allen surname in various fields.
Globalization has meant that surnames distribute far beyond their country of origin, so that it can be done to get African surnames in Europe or Indian surnames in Oceania. The exact same takes place in the case of Allens, which as you're able to corroborate, it can be said it is a surname that may be found in a lot of the countries of the globe. In the same way you can find nations in which certainly the thickness of people with all the surname Allens is higher than in other countries.
The possibility of examining on a globe map about which nations hold a greater number of Allens in the world, helps us a lot. By putting ourselves in the map, for a tangible country, we could understand tangible number of individuals using the surname Allens, to obtain this way the particular information of all the Allens that you could presently find in that country. All this also assists us to know not merely in which the surname Allens comes from, but also in excatly what way the folks that are initially an element of the household that bears the surname Allens have moved and moved. In the same manner, you are able to see by which places they've settled and developed, which is the reason why if Allens is our surname, it seems interesting to which other countries of the world it is possible that certain of our ancestors once relocated to.