Last name: Allison

It is doubtful if any "Scottish" surname arouses as much controversy over its origins as "Allison". Cutting through the swathes of arguments as to whether the origin was from Alyes (French) Alice (English) Alan (Scottish) or Ellis (Norman from Hebrew), what can be said with historical accuracy is that the oldest know recording is English! (see below). Certainly as far as Scotland is concerned the earliest recording would seem to be that of Patrick Alissone, Count of Berwick who in 1296 rendered homage to the ruling council of Scotland in the absence of a proclaimed King Given the propensity of the Gaelic Tribes for the clans. It does not seem unreasonable that the "Allison" surname descended from this man or his family. What is beyond argument is that over the centuries all manner of "near" names have become subordinate to Allison including Ellison, Aleseson, Alanson, whilst also retaining their own spellings. Examples of the development include Jonet Alysone (also recorded as Janet Alansone) in 1559, James Allesone, Bailiff of Renfrew in 1688 and Thomas Allison who on June 14th 1679 sailed for Virginia, New England, in the ship "Johns Adventure of London". The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Alisun, which was dated 1248, in the Documents of the Abbey of Bee in Buckinghamshire, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Visitor Comments

Darin Allison
My last name is Allison and my family came to the US from Scotland.

Susan Alllison Hooper
My maiden name is Allison, my family came to the US from Scottland, also.

kelley
my heritage is definitely from England. on my mother's side (womack) and my father's side (allison) :D

george allison
sorry kelley allison is a scots name first mentioned by patrick allison 1200s

Kirsten
Well, it could be Scottish but it also could be French-originating from a place named Alysse/Alysson. My surname's Allison and i live in N.I as has my family for ages.

Sara Jane
In personal family genealogy, my mother has found Aelisson and Ellcesson, two variant spellings of the same family name, which appeared immediately to me to be forms of Ellison. I can easily attribute the differences in spelling to be both illiteracy on the part of my ancestors and a lack of standardized spelling. I have especial interest in the bearer of this name, as he adopted three children, presumably siblings, one of which is noted as "an idiot" (mentally handicapped), and seemed unusually well off for a farmer and a blacksmith, and even more unusually well off for anyone connected with my family. There seems to be a story and my family wishes to follow it further. The trouble is, we don't have much information on the man's origins, which would help us narrow our search for more records. If anyone would like to help, or redirect to another resource, such assistance would be appreciated. Which locality does my family spellings suggest? Is it Norman, Gaelic, English, Scottish, French...?

george allison
hello sara im george allison from glasgow scotland the name with son at the end suggests nordic origins probably when vikings came to christianity as in scotland son of is at front of name ex: macdonald means son of donald

Barron Moore
My mother's father last name was Allison and he was Norweigen.

Allison
Same here but the name Allison was adopted in the USA. Ellis island records show name was originally Johansson, meaning Johan's son as Norway did not use surnames until 1924.

Chi Chi Murray
My family name is Allison and father of scottish descent and his father was one of the founders of Sheffield Steel-apparently remarried and was murdered (poisoned so newspapeer article states. Travelled to India and helped construct Indian railways - I was also born in India. Maybe there is a family connection.

Theresa
Can anybody help me please! i'm searching for my grandmother or family in Allison family that was living in Germiston, South-Africa in 1942. My mom was born on 17th April 1942 as Anne Allison in Boksburg, Gauteng South-Africa and adopted by Greyling family in the same year. All that i know is my grandmother's name as Elizabeth C Allison. All records have been sealed with orders not to be opened. Any advice please will help send to theresaCtny2@vodamail.co.za

candace allison
My grandmothers name was elizabeth allison also. Of birchwood tennessee. There are lots of allisons here around the chattanooga area.

Allison Ifamadoughma
My last name is Allison. I'm a Nigerian, though obviously with some "white" genes. When we traced our lineage backwards to our white ancestor who was called back to Europe around the time of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorates of Nigeria (around 1914), we found we were actually of Scottish origin, not English as we thought earlier...

george allison
hey get in touch im george allison from glasgow scotland

george allison
hello all you allison folk, my name is george allison and im from glasgow scotland , i am led to believe my name came from clan mcallister and was founded at berwick during the siege of edward 1 , regards george

Christopher Allison
Hello, my name is Christopher Allison and I'm trying to find the roots from which i came from, its hard going thru life not knowing who you really are or what your background is, i was born in the us in 1979 in Massachusetts i have never met my father tho i have been looking for years, i guess he kind of just dropped off the map , his name just happens to be George H ,Allison kind of funny huh' it would be quite a coincidence if you were he ? Probably not tho' maybe someone will see this that may have some more information for me, thank you Chris.

June Roy
Hiya George...June (Allison)Roy here from Canada. I believe my grandfather was from Scotland but can't trace his name back. James Henry Allison. My aunt told me before she died that he was from "Out West" Canada somewhere and that he was highly educated. I saw a Canadian documentary where a lot of Scottish people settled in the Winnipeg area and wonder if he was one of them. I have my fathers birth certificate, so if I ever get the chance I will check with the registrar records as they show the parents names and birthplaces. Daughter is studying in Edinburgh right now and we fly into Glasgow when we visit with her. Yes, I believe it is McAllister clan as well. Patrick Allisone was from Lanarkshire I believe. I would love to chat via email with you for any information you may have to compare notes. Remember, our coat of arms motto is "truth prevails".

paul allison
I Although I live in Liverpool, I recently discovered that my father's ancestors moved here from Yorkshire, not too far from Scarborough. Anyone knwo of any allisons around there?

Roy
Would they come from Robin Hood's Bay, I wonder?

paul allison
Quite possibly, Roy, as it is nearby, but I have no evidence of that.

Sara Allison
Hi Paul, my Allison family (extended family) are based in Hull, going back 4 generations. There is also an area In Beverly named Allison's Yard, which I am told is named so as it used to be my family's land, although I have no written evidence to back up this story. The more I look, the more I believe we are of Scottish descent, but my family has eventually settled in Yorkshire.

Keith the Geordie Allison
There is also an Allison yard in next door Leven and an Allison Road running from Lissett to Ulrome on the coast. Seems there was/is a builder in the area called Allison. There are 3 Allison family branches in Driffield, none are related to each other. Also on wife is called Alison Allison. My family hail from the Berwickshire, Hexham, Jarrow etc area.

Louise
My Dad's family are Allison's from Scarborough area. I'm just at the start of my search. My Dad says they owned land/ were farmers in that area.

sa.x
hi allison's, my 2nd name is alison:) live in scotland ayrshire.

Jenny Allison
My Second name is Allison, I have family that came from Scotland but I and my family have lived in Newcastle for our whole lives.. My dad had a son before he met my mam.. He got called Steven .. His mum Called Linda.. I have been lookking for him as soon as I found out of his exsistence.. I dont even know what his surname deffinately is it is eiter Allison Or Ferguson.. After his mother.. I just hope I find him someday as i feel like a part of me is missing, he will be in his early twenties and I am 17, I have three other siblings, Jordan 20, Jessica 18 and Taylor 14, These are all my siblings I have grew up with, and Jordan in fact is going to be a father by tommoro, making me a auntie and Steven a uncle, thats why my searchfor him is more intence than ever.. please if anyone knows how to reunite us to be a full family please add me on facebook which is .. Jenniie Fifi'Alcofrol Allisonn...... ‎ much love .. xx

susan allison
Hi, my name is Susan Allison, I live in California. My family has been traced all the way back to Scotland in the 1500. My grandfaathers name was Elicu Cresswell Allison.

Keith the Geordie Allison
I always understood it was a Scottish name from MacAllister. I have spent a lifetime listening to ignorant people correcting the spelling of my name. One schoolteacher refused to believe it had 2 "L's" and insisted on publishing it with one "L". He knew best. My understanding is that one "L" is reserved for a girls Christian name, and 2 for the Surname. My female cousin nee Allison married a Paley, but christened her daughter Alison. There are Allisons buried on Holy Island (aka Lindisfarne) near to Berwick on Tweed So I prefer to think we were the first Christians ! Not sure where it went wrong.

Jess Alison
hmmm im not sure about what you said about one L being reserved for a girls christian name because alison was around as a surname before a christian name

paul allison
hi all,ive been given allison family tree dating back to scotland in 1790,im trying to find a bit more about the individual names and could use any help,many thanks paul

Malvin M. Allison
Paul, my uncle traced our Allison lineage to Scotland. The only Scottish-born family member I know is Robert Allison, born in Scotland in 1713. The next name I have is also listed only as Robert, born in Glascow on October 3, 1827. His son, James Noah Allison was born in 1855 in Virginia, USA. James' son, Robert Maxie Allison (my grand father) was born in Charleston, West Virginia on December 27, 1882. Any information you have that includes these names would be appreciated. I live in California but was raised in W VA.

Casey B. Allison
Hello everyone, My name Is Casey Allison and I live in the U.S. state of Georgia. and my grandfather died just after my birth and I don;t have a clue what my heritage is. Wish I did... wouldn't even know where to start.

David Allison
hello casey, from what i can remember from the stories i was told by my family here in london, england, the Allisons originated in scotland, certainly my ancestors did, and some sailed off to distand lands in the 1700's and 1800's. I was told that some of them settled in the southern states of america and there was a famous gunfighter from tenesee named clay allison. I hope to have time to do my family history one day to verify these stories. beat wishes dave Allison

Amy Scott
Can anyone help? I am trying to find any information on Robert Allison. He was born about 1859. All I know was he was from the North of England and his father is named as James Allison on his marriage records. He emigrated to Canada, married in India in 1910 then returned to Canada where he died in Vancouver in 1913. Any information gratefully received.

Chad Allison
My dad's name is Robert Allison (born in Quebec in 1944), his dad's name was Robert Allison (born in Glasgow in 1916, came to Montreal on a boat in 1928), and his dad's name was Robert Allison (I beleive born in Glasgow but don't know when, his wifes name was Margaret born in 1896). But don't think we're talking about the same Allison chain.......who knows?

Casey B. Allison
My father was a Robert Benson Allison but not the one you speak of. Sorry. His fathers name was Carl. I have one brother named Brad James Allison. My dad was from the Lula area of Ga. and owned an antique car restoration shop until he passed.

Tom Bosman
Hi to the Allisons My wife is a descendant of James Allison born in Scotland in 1776 He got married in Ayr Scotland on 20 Feb 1796 and came to South Africa with the 1820 British settlers. He past away in 1826 in Clanwilliam Cape South Africa. If anyone can assist me with more detail on this specific line it would be very kind Kind regards

Robin Allison
I am the great-great grandson of James Allison, brother of Francis who emigrated to SA in 1820. I have quite a large amount of information.

lyn smart chester
My mothers maiden name was Allison. She and her parents were from Southern Ireland, Co. Cork.

Karen Kunkle
i am also descended from Allison's in County Cork. Carrie Allison, William Locke Allison and Edgar Matthews Allison all lived in the late 1800's in North Carolina. Carrie was my great grandmother, and she was married to Henry Fletcher Long, MD, in Statesville, NC. Carrie's mother was Betty Chunn, and I believe her family lineage also includes the Cowan name. One of my relatives researched the family name and traced our family to one in Cork, even met them on a trip to Ireland and visited the family home.

Drew
My mothers surname is Allison and she lives in Cork!

lynsmartchester
Hi Drew, what a coincidence! What is your mothers first name? My mother was Eileen Hilda, born 1916, Cork.

Drew
My Moms name is Wendy her Dads name was Richard (Dick) Allison not sure when he was born but I know his wife was born in 1918 (Betty) she only passed away 2 years ago.

Drew
Hay lyn do you know what her father or mothers names were? As the Irish census forms are online for 1901 and 1911

Lyn smart chester
Drew, my Grandfathers name was Archibald Allison and Grannies name was Margaret Rock, maiden name. I also had an Uncle Dick Allison, mums brother. He was married to Janet but don`t know her maiden name. Also have an Aunt Betty (nee Allison...now Perrott through marriage to William Perrott.)

Drew
Archibald was my great grandfathers (Henry James Allison) brother here is a link to the 1901 census form http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Cork/Cork_Urban_No__4/O_Connell_Street/1104562/

Lyn smart chester
My grandparents Archibald and Margaret Allison lived in Capwell Avenue, Cork. Forgotten the house number. I do know Archibald was born in Dublin.

Megan Allison
My surname - funnily enough - is Allison. I have always and still do, live in Scotland - not far from Glasgow. I don't know much in my history, mostly the reason I'm on this site.

Stephanie Carey
evening all and welcome from New Zealand. I am tracing my Allison family and can so far go back to a William Allison B:1736 who married an Ann Struthers. My lineage comes through their son, John Allison B:1765 D:1841 who resided in Paisley, Scotland. Does anyone have any info regarding this extension of the Allisons please?

David Allison
Stephanie I am an Allison from Paisley. My ancestors were John Allison (born Erskine, Renfrewshire (birthplace recorded in poor law records)) and Janet Whyte (born Paisley). There were a few John Allisons born about the same time. Do you have information to confirm that William is John's father? Thanks David

Glenn Allison
Kiora I am a Allison in New Zealand from whom's bloodline comes from Arthur Allison born in Lanarkshire in 1817. One of Arthurs sons (Mungo Allison) came to New Zealand and set up residency in Dunedin. I have no trace of lineage pre Arthur so if any body could help it would be much appreciated. Arthur married Helen Wyllie and they had 7 children?

Chris Allison
Hello all I'm Chris Allison and I come from scotch-Irish parents. My origin is Scottish if I'm not mistaken. I would live to learn more about the Scottish Allison's and their lineage. Any information is greatly appreciated

janet lumb
My grandfather was John Robert Allison of Sunderland and I am keen to trace back the line to Somerled, Lord of the Isles and Kintyre. There seem to be a few centuries missing...