SURNAMES BEGINNING WITH "A"

[Abbot], [Abercrombie], [Abrahams], [Ackerman], [Adams], [Addison], [Adler], [Ahearne], [Ainsworth], {Aitken], [Albright], [Alexander], [Alford], [Allen], [Altman], [Amiss], [Anderson], [Andrews], [Appleby], [Archer], [Arkwright], [Armitage], [Armourer], {Armstrong],  [Arnold], [Arthur], [Ashbury], [Ashdown], [Ashley], [Ashmore], [Ashton], [Astbury], [Atkins], [Atwell], [Austin]

ABBOT - Although the surname itself is closely associated with the head or occupant of a religious Abbey, it is entirely possible that its use as a modern surname might simply suggest an association with a place or structure which was formerly owned by one of these early religious houses, such as an Abbots Well or an Abbots Field

ABERCROMBIE - The word "Aber" is said to denote a place of convergence for rivers and streams, etc and is regularly featured in modern day place names eg Aberystwyth, Abersoch, etc. The word "Crom" is thought to denote a crooked or bent geographical feature, such as a river bend.

ABRAHAMS - Biblical name, commonly used as a mans Christian or first name, but has developed into family name due to association between father and son ie Abrahams son = Abrahams. Variations might include Abrams.

ACKERMAN - Despite having an apparent Germanic influence to the name, the word "acker" was thought to be a medieval title which described a "ploughman" or a "tiller of the soil". The name TILMAN may have a similar origin.  

ADAMS - A biblical name which gained popularity following the introduction of the Christian religion during both the Roman occupation of Britain and the later Anglo Saxon periods. The earlier form of the surname would almost certainly have been Adamson, which recognised the common practice of identifying the son with his father, but which has been contracted over a period of time.

ADDISON - The "Addi" prefix of the family name is thought to be a corrupted and contracted version of the common first name Adam, with the "Son" suffix illustrating the relationship between father and son.

ADLER - The German word meaning "Eagle" which has been adopted as an occasional family name.

AHEARNE - This typically Irish family name is thought to originate from the Gaelic name "Eachthighearna"

AINSWORTH - The suffix "worth" is said to originate from the early English word for "enclosure".

AITKEN - Commonly thought to be a contracted form of the first name Adam and associated with a younger male relation. Its variations include the alternatively spelled AITKIN.

ALBRIGHT - This family name is thought to be associated with the forename Albert, which is itself thought to be derived from the Germanic name Albrecht, which is said to identify someone who is both "noble" and "bright" (Bright in this case being famous or well known)

ALEXANDER - The historic Macedonian born leader Alexander the Great is possibly the earliest known individual who bore the name and the possibility exists that it then came to Britain with the military forces of Claudius, but in its highly Romanized form. The Christian name Alexander is said to mean "defender of men". (NB: My thanks to Tony Long for the clarification over the ethnicity of the historic monarch Alexander, who I had mistakenly titled a Greek)

ALFORD - Thought to have originated from the identification of a person with his home area or region which featured an "old" river crossing or "ford" which had attached itself to him and his heirs.

ALLEN - The name Alan is thought to have arrived in Britain with the Norman forces of William the Conqueror and might indeed be the derivation of the modern surname. However, it has also been suggested that the surname might have originated from the River Alyn in the principality of Wales An early Gaelic name "Allin" meaning small or little rock is yet another possible source for the modern day first name and family name.

ALTMAN - Originating from the German word for "Old Man", the family name is commonly used on the continent, rather than in Britain.

AMISS - Said to originated with the French word "Ami" meaning "friend" and which was brought to Britain with the military forces of William the Conqueror.

ANDERSON - Suggested to have a Scandanavian origin, possibly Andersson, the early suffix "son" would indicate a recognition of a father and son relationship. Alternatively, the modern day surname has been suggested as a peculiarly Gaelic invention, stemming from a recognition of "Andrews son".

ANDREWS - Biblical Saints name which was commonly used as a first name in Britain following the arrival of Christianity to these shores during both the Roman and Anglo Saxon periods. Its use as a surname is due to the early common practice of identifying particular individuals by their fathers name, consequently leading to 'Andrews son' eventually becoming abbreviated to Andrews.

APPLEBY - A name which is thought to have attached itself to workers or growers from an apple orchard. The related family name APPLETON is said to denote a town or settlement which was known for growing or storing these common fruits.

ARCHER - One of the many surnames which is thought to have been derived from an individuals specific occupation, in this case a military one and which has been carried forward as a modern family name.

ARKWRIGHT - Said to have originated with the profession of medieval "chest or case" makers, being derived from the Old French word "arc" which described a chest or case.

ARMITAGE - Thought to be associated with and derived from the common medieval religious structure known as a hermitage. A place of isolation and contemplation which was occupied by a religious zealot who devoted themselves entirely to God or alternatively, someone who had chosen to withdraw from the wider world. The family name is said to identify a man who lived close to one of these places.

ARMOURER - An unusual family name, but its origins are fairly obvious nonetheless. The name derives from an occupational root, describing those who manufactured or maintained personal armour or produced defensive plates for buildings.

ARMSTRONG - In its correct form, the name originates from "Strong Arm" being derived from the Old English words ""Earm" and "Strang", which have been transposed to give us the modern version.

ARNOLD - One source suggests that the name is said to have originated from the Germanic words; "Arn" meaning "Eagle" and "Wald" meaning "Ruler". However, the name Adler is said to denote "eagle" and the word "wald" is said to mean or denote a connection with "woods", so this origin for the family name "Arnold" is uncertain.

ARTHUR - The name of the legendary English king who held court at his mythical capital of Camelot and who headed the knights of the Round Table. The name Arthur was thought to have gained great public favour during the 15th Century after the king Henry (Tudor) VII named his eldest son Arthur. The name is thought to derive from the early Celtic words "Yr Arth" meaning "The Bear".

ASHBURY - The "Ash" prefix in any such name is said to represent an association with the tree of that name. "Bury" is said to be derived from the Anglo Saxon word "Burh" identifying a protected settlement. Consequently, the family name has simply attached itself to an individual from from a town or settlement with that historic place name.

ASHDOWN - A town or settlement called Ashdown was recorded in 648AD and a battle between the Anglo Saxon forces of Ethelred and Alfred and Vikings invaders was fought here in 871AD. The prefix Ash is thought to denote or identify a topographical feature ie: Ash Trees.

ASHLEY - The suffix "ley" is thought to be derived from the Anglo Saxon word for a "clearing" in a wood or similar and which is alternatively spelt as "Lea".

ASHMORE - The "Ash" prefix in any such name is said to represent an association with the tree of that name. The suffix "More" is thought to originate from the word "Mor" which identifies a marsh or a marshy area. Consequently, the family name has simply attached itself to an individual from from a town or settlement with that historic place name.

ASHTON - The suffix "ton" is thought to denote the Anglo Saxon word for a protected homestead or enclosure. As above, the Ash prefix is thought to denote a topographical feature, ie: a stand of Ash Trees. Modern variations might also include Aston, which is also a place name.

ASTBURY - The suffix "bury" is suggested as an alternative for the Anglo Saxon word for "burh" or "burgh" which identified a fortified settlement, which were initiated by King Alfred to protect England from the Vikings during the 9th Century.

ATKINS - The "kins" suffix might indicate a contraction of the word "kinsman". Sources suggest that the "At" prefix might have an association with the first name Adam, but a connection with the Christian name Arthur or its variant Art might be just as likely.

ATWELL - Sources suggest that the "At" prefix might have an association with the first name Adam, but a connection with the Christian name Arthur or a variation such as Art might be just as likely. Using that association, the family name might easily have originated from the identification of a man with the site of "Art's Well" which lay close to his home.

AUSTIN - Possibly derived from "Awstin" meaning "August" or from the Roman Emperor "Augustus". Alternatively, it has been suggested that the modern day version comes from the Norman name 'Aoustin' and was introduced to Britain by the forces of William the Conqueror.

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