Last name: Alty

This name, chiefly found in Yorkshire, is of Scandinavian origin, and derives from the Old Norse personal name "Auti", itself from "auth" meaning "riches" or "prosperity". The personal name was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 under three variant spellings: "Auti, Alti" and "Outi". One Outi de Lincol, appeared in the 1166 Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, and a Willelmus filius (son of) Auti was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1200. The surname was first recorded as "Oty" in the mid 13th Century; John Oty, in the Cartulary of Ramsey Abbey, Huntingdonshire, 1251, and as "Auty" in the second half of the 14th Century (see below). In the "modern" idiom, the name has several spelling variations, these include: Autie, Auty, Aughtie, Awty, Alty and Alti. Recordings from Yorkshire Church Registers include: the christening of Richardi Auty, an infant, on December 10th 1684, at Woodkirk, and the marriage of Daniel Auty and Martha Lee on November 12th 1719, in Mirfield. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Simon Auty, which was dated 1379, in the "Poll Tax Returns Records of Yorkshire", during the reign of King Richard 11, known as "Richard of Bordeaux", 1377 - 1399. 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

Debbie Alty
Large majority of Altys both now and in census records (going back to 1841) live in Lancashire not Yorkshire and lots of Altys are shown in 17th century records around the Rufford/Ormskirk area of Lancashire. I would dispute the Yorkshire origin claim.

malcolm alty
i to have followed my tree to pilling and rufford 1740

ip
check out the 'I am Alty' page on Facebook.

j.alty
my family derives from Lancashire so I agree, the war of the roses continues.... my surname does not originate from Yorkshire

Susi Alty
I live in the Crosby Area and i was told many yrs ago that the Alty name originated from the River Alt.???????

Chris Niblett
Hiya, I have just been chatting to an elderly relative who told me about The river Alt being named after a member of her family. She was born in Birmingham but went to live in Crosby with her parents. Nellie May Niblett and Albert Edward Alty. Her naqme is Nellie Alty, is she a member of your family too?

Peter Alty
I'm originally from Bootle and I too was under the impression the name Alty was derived from the river Alt.

Janet Lemmen
My Grandmother on my mother's side was named Alty...I have always believed her parents were from Ireland. Is this possible? They were immigrants to America back in the 1870's.

anne carter
My Alty family were from Lancashire, where I believed that most Altys lived. We also have heard that there were a lot of Altys in France going back to the 17th century when the Huguenots were thrown out of France and they came to England. There are so many conflicting "origins" it's pretty confusing! In the 1960s, there were only 3 Altys in the Manchester telephone directory and they were my father, John, my uncle Robert Leonard and my grandfather, John Ainsworth. Any relations out there?

John Auty
I too am following my tree for Auty (Anty, Alty) and got back in Lancashire to my ancestors in Clitheroe, Lancashire. There is no record of Joseph Alty anywhere I have looked but his sons are in my direct line. i too have heard of the French Heugenot connection and am following this up near Montauban where there is a town called Auty. I will post further updates.