FastNamesAllen Surname
Celtic, Irish, Scottish and English surname meaning "Personal and patronymic surname derived from Celtic roots, either Breton Alan (possibly meaning 'handsome' or 'little rock') or Gaelic Áilin ('noble', 'radiant').". Ranked 33rd in the United States with 482,607 recorded bearers in the 2010 Census (163.6 per 100,000 Americans).
Meaning and origin of the surname Allen
Personal and patronymic surname derived from Celtic roots, either Breton Alan (possibly meaning 'handsome' or 'little rock') or Gaelic Áilin ('noble', 'radiant').
Historically and linguistically, Allen belongs to the Celtic, Irish, Scottish and English family of surnames. It is conventionally pronounced "AL-uhn".
United States Census frequency and ranking
In the official 2010 United States Census, Allen was recorded 482,607 times, ranking as the 33rd most common surname in the nation.
This represents an incidence rate of approximately 163.61 bearers per 100,000 Americans, or roughly 1 out of every 611 residents.
Race and ethnicity distribution
According to official decennial Census genealogy microdata, individuals bearing the surname Allenreported the following racial and ethnic affiliations in the 2010 US Census:
| Racial or ethnic group | Share of bearers |
|---|---|
| White | 67.59% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 2.47% |
| Black or African American | 26.17% |
| Asian and Pacific Islander | 0.54% |
| American Indian and Alaska Native | 0.86% |
| Two or more races | 2.38% |
Source: US Census Bureau, 2010 Census Surnames Data. Percentages may not sum to exactly 100% due to independent rounding or suppression of small cell counts for privacy protection.
History of the surname Allen
Allen entered Britain primarily through Breton knights who accompanied William the Conqueror during the 1066 Norman Conquest, notably Alan Rufus (first Earl of Richmond and one of the wealthiest barons in Norman England). In Brittany, Alan was a venerable ducal and royal name of ancient Celtic origin, traditionally interpreted as 'handsome', 'cheerful', or 'little rock'.
In Scotland and Ireland, Allen emerged independently from Gaelic patronymics like Mac Ailín (MacAllen) in the Western Highlands and Hebrides, as well as toponymic associations with places such as the Bog of Allen in County Kildare. The surname spread across the Scottish Lowlands and Ulster, flourishing in both Catholic and Presbyterian communities.
Allen was carried to the American colonies in early waves of English and Scots-Irish migration, achieving patriotic prominence through Ethan Allen (1738–1789), leader of the Green Mountain Boys in the Revolutionary War. In the 2010 US Census, Allen ranked 33rd nationwide with 482,607 recorded bearers (163.61 per 100,000 Americans).
Notable people with the surname Allen
- Woody Allen (1935–), American filmmaker, actor, and comedian
- Paul Allen (1953–2018), American business magnate and Microsoft co-founder
- Ray Allen (1975–), American NBA Hall of Fame basketball player
- Josh Allen (1996–), American NFL football quarterback
Variants and related surnames
Spelling variants
Related surnames
Sources and references
- P.H. Reaney, R.M. Wilson. A Dictionary of English Surnames (1997), p. 7.
- George F. Black. The Surnames of Scotland (1946), p. 18.
- Patrick Woulfe. Irish Names and Surnames (1923), p. 220.