Alan Family Tree research resources
Explore the detail of the Alan Genealogy using the resources below. We hope you find these sites useful whilst you are researching your Family Tree !
 | Did you know that in the 1881 UK census there were 64 people with the Alan surname? In that year Alan was ranked number 3515 for popularity in the UK. |
1921 England and Wales Census records are now available!
On 6 January 2022 the 1921 England and Wales Census records were made available online via the FindMyPast website. The records have been indexed and are searchable via the usual methods. These records are only viewable on a pay-per-view basis and are not included in any of FindMyPast's existing subscriptions with the exception of the 12 month premium subscription.
Alan records on Ancestry
Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out your Alan family tree. A vast range of data is available to search ranging from census records, births, deaths and marriages, military records and immigration records to name but a few. Free trials are normally available and are a good way to fill out a lot of your tree quickly.
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Ancestry.com Global records search results for the Alan family. |
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Ancestry.com US records search results for the Alan family. |
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Ancestry.co.uk UK records search results for the Alan family. |
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Ancestry.ca Canadian records search results for the Alan family. |
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Ancestry.com.au Australian records search results for the Alan family. |
Historical References
"ALAN, ALLAN, ALLEN. This name in Scotland is of twofold origin: (1) from the Old Gaelic name Ailene (the Ailenus of Adamnan, I, 43) or Ailin, from ail 'rock,' seen in the old name of Dumbarton (Ail Cluade, 'rock of the Clyde'). From this source comes Alwyn, the name of the first earls of Levenax, early confused with Old English (Anglo-Saxon) Aelwin. (2) from the Breton through Norman French A/on. Alan or Alain Fergant was one of the leading Bretons who accompanied William the Conqueror to England. The oldest form of the name, on tenth century Breton coins, seems to be Alamnvs, though we also find Alarms in the same century (Loth, p. 83). Alan, king of Brittany, is mentioned in Brut y Twysogion under 683. The form Alamnvs points to Alemannus, the Germanic tribal name, meaning 'all men,' as the source of the personal name. The name became a popular one in Scotland from its occurrence in the family of the Stewards. Alan, son of Waldeve witnessed charters by King David i, 1139 (Raine, 19, 20). Alanus, brother of Galfridus Redberd witnessed sale of a tenement in Perth, 1219 (Scon, p. 52), and Alanus, capellanus Willelmi Cumyn, comes de Buchan, 1221 (RAA., i, p. 93). Aleyn fitz Maucolum of Berwickshire and John fiz Aleyn, burgess of Montrose, rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, n, p. 198, 207). Loughlan le fiz Aleyn, son- -inlaw of Alexander of Argyll, was received to the king of England's peace in 1301 (ibid., p. 307). Duncan Alowne was admitted burgess of Aberdeen, 1446 (NSCM., I, p. 10). Henry Alane was clerk of accounts of the king's household, 1490. Henry Alane was archdeacon of Dunblane, 1498. Thomas Ailen in Jedburgh, 1641 (RRM., i, p. 89). The Allans of Bute, who appear also in record as Callan, Callen, Macallan, and Maccallan, are properly Macallans. Bearers of the name Allan are permitted by grace of the sartorial fraternity to wear the tartan of Macdonald of Clan Ranald, or, alternatively, that of Clan Macfarlane. Alen, Alene (1565), Allane (1554), Alland, Allone. Cf. ALMAN. "(The surnames of Scotland. George Fraser Black, 1866-1948)
DNA
Sometimes you can run into a brick wall in your tree and you just don't have enough evidence to make that next step back in time. If you are lucky then you may find some previously undiscovered Alan ancestors. Additionally, the modern DNA test can give you a breakdown of your ethnic mix - you may be surprised at the results!
Have you reached a brick wall in your Alan Tree?
Visit our Alan DNA page to find out more.
Birth, Death and Marriage Records for the Alan Genealogy
Birth, Death and Marriage records are often the best method of making the links to the Alan Genealogy that will form part of your family tree. Although records vary from country to country, they are normally the most formal record of a person's relations. From the sources below you will be able to find a birth record and, from that, a birth certificate can be ordered which lists the names of the mother and father, taking you back another generation in your tree. A marriage certificate may also list the names of the respective fathers of the bride and groom which may then help you to find them earlier in life on a census record enabling you to fill out more detail in the Alan family tree.
Study Alan Parish Records at Find My Past.
Explore the UK registered births, marriages and deaths for the Alan family name using the FreeBMD database.
Study Genealogy Bank for Alan family records.
Look at MyHeritage for Alan family data.
Study the LDS Database for records of the Alan family.
Research the Alan surname using fold3 Military Archives and view images of original Alan Military records.
| Did you know that there are currently 212 people with the Alan surname in the UK? Alan is now ranked number 3843 for popularity in the UK. |
Alan Family History Databases
Search WikiTree for user contributed Alan family records. Collaboration is encouraged so that accuracy of Alan data can be verified or corrected by other users.
Explore MyTrees for information on the Alan family and people looking to contact living Alan relations.
Investigate GENi for Alan family records.
Find your Irish Alan relatives on findmypast.ie
Alan Forums
Research the Alan surname using Genealogy.com forums .
Miscellaneous Alan Databases
Look at the Ellis Island Database for information on the Alan family. This database contains over 25 million immigration records detailing passengers arriving in the United States of America.
Use the Surname Map project to look at the current distribution of the Alan surname in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Romania.
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