Last name: Allport

This old-established surname is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a locational name from the hamlet of Alport, near Rowsley in Derbyshire. Recorded as "Aldeport" in the Hundred Rolls of that county, dated 1279, the component elements of the placename are the Olde English pre 7th Century "alde", old, with "port", port, market town, ultimately from the Latin "portus". Locational surnames, such as this, were originally given to local landowners, and the lord of the manor, and especially as a means of identification to those who left their birthplace to settle elsewhere. On June 22nd 1572, Elnor Alport and John Taylor were married in Walsall, Staffordshire, and on November 28th 1648, Clemman, son of Robert Allport was christened at St. Peter's, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire. One of the earliest recordings of Allport from Derbyshire Church Registers is the marriage of William Allport to Sarah Bradley at Atlow, on March 19th 1775. A notable bearer of the name was Sir James Joseph Allport (1811 - 1192), general manager of the Midland railway, 1853 - 1857, and managing director of Palmer's Shipbuilding Company, Jarrow, 1857 - 1860. Under his direction the Midland railway grew into one of the chief English railway systems. A Coat of Arms granted to the family is a shield with a barry wavy of eight, silver and azure, on a red bend three gold mullets, the Crest being a demi lion rampant erminois collared with a red mural crown. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Alport, which was dated February 10th 1560, marriage to Elizabeth Jukes, at Sedgley, Staffordshire, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. 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

mark allport
this is so wrong and typical of american research. the first alport was in fact robert de alport mentioned in 1127 in the 27th year of the reign of henryI. he and his father william de alport were land owners. the name does not come from "old markettown or old gate/gateway" a common misconseption of anglo norman naming, but the word gate, which in the peaklands actualy means "path/trackway", which therefore interprets as "aldeport - old trackway/road" probably originating from the roman road passing through alport on its way to manchester where it meets "alport town" on the outskirts of the city. from the book "ALPORTIANA - a history of the alport family" published in 1937.

Caroll-ann Donnelly (nee Allport)
Hi Mark, Do you know anything about William Allport, my grandfather Born 1883 - Died 1957 and is buried in the Muswellbrook Cemetary in Muswellbrook NSW Australia. Would appreciate any help (with the Australian Mainland Allport's has opposed to the Tasmania Allport family line) Thank you - Caroll-ann

Rod Watson
Hi Caroll-Ann, Born 24 May 1883, Goulburn NSW, Christened 25 March 1884, Goulburn NSW Died 28 March 1957 Muswellbrook, Buried Muswellbrook Son of Thomas Allport (1853-1901) and wife Anne Jane Chism Murray (1862-1946) Married 1 Mary P Riding (1878-1907) 1903 Newcastle 2 children Married 2 Maude Evelyn Noble (1879-1961) 1913 Murrurundi 2 children My relationship is through his brother Rollo, my grandfather. We have extensive Allport research of this line in Australia.

Caroll-ann Donnelly (nee Allport)
Hello Rod, Goodness didnt realize how much time has gone by in just living life. Thank you for your information. I would like to know more about family connections. A small historical moment in time: Ben Hall (the bushranger) had connections to Murrurundi in NSW having purchased some land there and running a butchers shop for a time, a time when my grandfathers family lived in Murrurundi (my father was born in Murrurundi). Later in Ben's travels he visited at Lambing Flat near Goulburn a Mr Allport possibly Stephen "Steve" Allport (name yet to be verified). The Allport's of Goulburn area are relatives of my great grandfather William. I wonder who introduced whom? When Ben made the visit to lambing flat, most certainly there would have been a mention about the Allports of Murrurundi to the Allport's at Goulburn. I remember when I was younger my Dad and my Mum took my sister and I down to Sydney to visit Aunty Queen in her later years, she was living in a house and her son and his wife were living in a caravan at the time in Aunty Queen's backyard. Would like to hear again from you. Regards Caroll-ann

Ben Allport
I've got that book! I also noticed the discrepancy there - I study Old English at Cambridge and 'Portweġ' is definitely the word for pathway or track - seeing as this path still exists and is called the Old Portway you'd have thought whoever did the original research would have made that connection :)

Bryan Allport
Goodevening, My name is Bryan Allport, 12 years old, and i am from The Netherlands, Because of my father i started to get interested in doing a research on the Allport family and im trying to put up a large scale family tree. I saw you mentioned alportiana Is it possible to buy a copy from you? Kind regards, Bryan Derrick Allport

Caroll-ann
Hello Rod, Thank you for replying. If my memory and facts are true, Rollo (also known has Roy) Allport married Queenie Molyneux, the Allport family from Lightning Ridge NSW. Roy and Queenie, were my Father's Uncle and Aunt. Dad always called Queenie "Aunty Queen" and as a child I did also). Although I did not know Great Uncle Roy, I do remember though I was very little, visiting Aunty Queen when she was still in "The Ridge" before she moved down to Sydney If true, then we are related. I would very much like to correspond with you regarding the Allport Family.

Bryan Allport
Goodevening, My name is Bryan Allport, 12 years old, and i am from The Netherlands, Because of my father i started to get interested in doing a research on the Allport family and im trying to put up a large scale family tree. I saw you mentioned alportiana Is it possible to buy a copy from you? Kind regards, Bryan Derrick Allport

mark allport
hi bryan, i have photocopied the booklet which i could email to you as page jpegs if you like. if you send your email address to mark@lindamar.plus.com i will attach them to email and send them on to you. regards, mark.

Bryan Allport
Hi, I tried several times to contact you about alportiana, so could you please contact me: Bryanallport@gmail.com. Kind regards, Bryan

Susan Allport
This was all very interesting as I have never really looked into my family tree. My grandfather Lenard Allport was born in the midlands area of the UK. I do know of a lot of Allport s in New Zealand in Nelson and a few in Canada, as my great uncle went to Canada in the 1930s. Would love to corresponde with someone who has more information about the Allport name and family.

tracey
HI, Wondering if you have a John D Allport married to Emma McConnell 1892 in Goulburn NSW,Australia and their children. Kind Regards Tracey

lynn
Hi my name is lynn, but i was adopted and my real name is mary allport, my mothers name was clara from liverpool anyone who can help me find my birth family would be much appreciated.