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Origins of the Allen surname

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What does the name Allen mean?

The Allen surname is believed to be patronymic, referring to those who are the son or descendant of Alan or Allen (a common forename from the Norman era). Allen is a mostly English and Scottish surname, with Celtic roots. It can sometimes refer to someone who is from or near an Allen (green plain) or the river Allen, of which there are several.

Alternative variations of the name Allen

Allen, Alan, Allan, Alleyn, Allain

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Where do most Allens live?

In 1921, most Allens lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Allens

How common is your surname?

40th most common surname in the UK

We have 600,000 records for the Allen surname. The oldest one dates back to 1220.

Who were Allens most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Johnsons

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Allens.

What are the most common Allen first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Allen family members

Common jobs for Allens

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Allens in 1921
Dressmaker

2,683

Laundress

1,890

Domestic Servant

1,399

General Servant Domestic

1,299

General Servant

1,110

Common Male occupations for Allens in 1921
Agricultural Labourer

2,724

General Labourer

2,207

Coal Miner

1,780

Carpenter

1,652

Farm Labourer

1,451

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Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 800,000 family trees with the Allen surname

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