Last name: Ayliffe

This unusual and long-established surname is of Anglo-Saxon and Old Norse origin, and has two possible sources, which are both personal names. The first is from the Middle English female given name "Ayleve" or "Aylgive", from the Olde English pre 7th Century "Aethelgifu", itself composed of the elements "aethel", noble, and "gifu", gift; and was the name of a daughter of King Alfred the Great, who became abbess of Shaftesbury. The second possible derivation is from an Old Norse byname, "Eilifr", composed of the elements "ei", always, and "lifr", life, thus either, "noble gift", or "eternal life". In the modern idiom the surname can be found as Ayliffe, Ayliff, Ellif and Elliff. The surname was first recorded in the late 12th Century, and one Aenaed Fitz-Aluf (an early form of this name) was the Sheriff of London in 1198. John Ayliffe (1676 - 1732), a Jurist who is listed in the "Dictionary of National Biography", published controversial writings about Oxford University, then went on to publish treatise on Canon and Civil Law. Recordings from London Church Registers include the marriage of William Ayliffe and Frances Weston at St. George's, Hanover Square, in 1783. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Segarus Aileves, which was dated 1188, in the "Calendar of Abbot Samson of Bury St. Edmunds", Suffolk, during the reign of King Henry 11, known as "The Builder of Churches", 1154 - 1189. 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

L Ayliffe
I never knew all this about my family, i knew that there was a kings daughter with the same name but not all of this. thank you.

Ayliffe Hurst
My first name is Ayliffe and it's really wired seeing it as a surname.......but fascinating!

Tom ayliffe
woah, thats awesome, boy or girl??

Zaida
My last name is Ayliff..i am looking for people who share the same spelling as a last name.

Tom ayliffe
woh my last name sometimes gets spelt like that by teachers, but ive never heard of this before

Tom Ayliffe
wow so many ayliffes i dont know of, what country did you come from, im australian cuz aussies are awesome!!! yeaahh!! anyway im 13 and a healthy ayliffe living here in australia

Zaida
Hi Tom, I'm from Cape Town, South Africa. Besides my dad and siblings, I havn't met another Ayliff yet. When people comment on my unusual surname, I usually say;" I'm the only one" , lol!

Maite Ayliffe
My surname is Ayliffe and i'm from Argentina. I think there are ayliffes all around the world.

TONY AYLIFFE
MY FATHER CHARLES HENRY AYLIFFE 1916 1982 MY MOTHER GLADYES AYLIFFE 1913 1984 MY GRANFATHER FREDERRICK AYLIFFE ALL BORN LONDON HACKNEY AREA ALUF[an early form of this name] WAS SHERIFF OF LONDON IN 1198 JOHN AYLIFFE[1676-1732]. A JURIST

Staurt Ayliffe
my name is Stuart Ayliffe and l live in Adelaide South Australia Australia

Stephen Ayliffe
I believe you may be related to Thomas Hamilton Ayliffe who emigrated to S Australia in 1838, google his name with Adelaide if you haven't already ... Many of the few Ayliife's there are over the centurys (400ish) so all related lived in North Wiltshire UK after being given land by King Henry IIIV, look at this site:http://www.oodwooc.co.uk/church_names/A_snames_6.htm#AYLIFFE Must make S Aus at some time looking to emigrate to NZ.

steve ayliffe
Hey my name is Steven Ayliffe. I live Kingston hopn hull,east yorkshire,UK.apart from my family I have never met another Ayliffe.dya think people with surnames smith Feel the same way we do haha