Alan (given name): Difference between revisions
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| meaning = Rock, Little Rock, Handsome |
| meaning = Rock, Little Rock, Handsome |
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| region = |
| region = |
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| origin = Scottish, Breton, English, Welsh, Irish, |
| origin = Scottish, Breton, English, Welsh, Irish, French |
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| related names = |
| related names = [[Aelian]], [[Aelius]], [[Helios]] |
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| footnotes = Medieval form of [[Gallo-Roman culture|Gallo-Roman name]], conflated with unrelated native Breton name and retained for their popularization. |
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| footnotes = |
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'''Usage''': [[Scotland|Scottish]], [[Brittany|Breton]], [[England|English]], [[Wales|Welsh |
'''Usage''': [[Scotland|Scottish]], [[Brittany|Breton]], [[England|English]], [[Wales|Welsh]], [[Ireland|Irish]], [[France|French]] |
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'''Pronounced''': Al-an |
'''Pronounced''': Al-an |
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'''Alternative Spellings''': Allan, Allen, Alen, Allyn, Alun, Ailín, |
'''Alternative Spellings''': Allan, Allen, Alen, Allyn, Alun, Ailín, Alain, Elian |
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It was introduced to [[England]] by [[Bretons]] before and after the [[Norman Conquest of England]], having been popularized in their province as the misspelled name of Allorus (feast date 27 Dec.), bishop of [[Quimper]]. Having a similar name and feast date only a month apart, Allorus was thus conflated with [[Saint Alan]] (feast date 25 Nov.) of [[Lavaur Cathedral]] in [[Gascony]] near [[Toulose]], whose name was a [[Vulgar Latin]] spelling of [[Aelian]]us, being recorded variously Alen or Elan. Aelianus is a developed form of [[Aelius]], itself a Roman borrowing of the Greek [[Helios]]. The name is interpreted as meaning either "little rock" or "handsome" in [[Breton language|Breton]], and "harmony" in some [[Celtic languages]]. |
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The name means either "little rock" or "handsome" in [[Breton language|Breton]] ([[Brittany]]), and "harmony" in some [[Celtic languages]]. It may possibly have been introduced to [[England]] by [[Bretons]] after the [[Norman Conquest of England]]. |
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Another similarly rooted, but equally likely origin however, is from the Tribe of "[[Alans]]", a breakaway grouping of the better known Scythians/Sarmatians - a warrior people famed for their horsemanship and prowess for archery from the saddle. These Scythians - a loose collection of tribes sharing a common lifestyle but huge equestrian skills - who had been driven from their lands by the rise and inexorable movement westwards of other more aggressive nomadic peoples from the fringes of Asia via the (now Russian) steppes towards Eastern Europe and Asia minor - Initially settled around Black sea, keeping contact and trading peacefully on the outskirts of the Greek world until increasing pressure from competing tribes ultimately led to their attacking peaceful Roman provinces and led to their subjugation and ultimate (many say, wished for) assimilation by Rome. |
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This settling of the Sarmatian/Alan tribe of people upon the periphery of the classical Greek world would also explain the Kurdish occurrence of the Alan name, where a large body of the Alan's eventually settled. There is also a ([[Kurdistan|Kurdish]]) village named Alan in [[Şemdinli]] which is a district located in the [[Hakkari]] Province of southeastern Turkey, this village was also on the route of the [[Alans]] during their westward movement to Europe. The extent of the Scythians, Sarmatians and ultimately their successors the Alans power and respect was vast and clearly indicated by the Cossacks of Russia, who vehemently claim to be descendants of the Alans and to have proudly retained their skills of ferocity, horsemanship and chivalry right up to the modern day. |
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With more specific reference to the name's occurrence in western Europe, the early Alan's had many encounters with Roman power from this initial contact and showed considerable skill in avoiding or destroying Roman armies, from Parthia (Iran) and Murcia before eventually being defeated and subjugated by Rome, whereupon a significant body of the defeated warriors were absorbed by the Romans as hostage tribute. |
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This was highly significant, as these highly respected Alan Heavy cavalry units were now deliberately turned to the use of the Empire, so that whilst the majority of the Alan people were subsequently accommodated by the Empire, many of their youthful and defeated warriors were now to be held hostage for up to 20 years by the Romans and stationed far from their homeland, mainly in Breton, France and northern Britain, with little hope of return. Such was the reverence within which these Alan horsemen were held by the Romans, that they were not slaughtered upon defeat as usual, but absorbed into the Roman army for their unique skills as warriors to be used for the betterment of the empire itself! |
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These "civilised " Alan heavy cavalry units are thought to have seen extensive action in defense of [[Hadrian's wall]] in Britain and some historians believe the vestigial presence of this renowned Alan heavy cavalry during the decline of Roman power, their probable intermarriage with the local populace and their cultural association with the origin of the knightly equine code of chivalry, may have contributed significantly to much of the mystical and legendary traditions of mediaeval Europe and in particular that of the [[Arthurian legends]] of Britain and Breton (France). |
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It is possible that the extensive use of the name Alan in the English speaking world was due to both the Breton (Norman) influence but also an even earlier presence which may have existed from the 1st and 2nd AD and in turn have led to the development of the more prevalent Allen/Allan form encountered today within England & Scotland and its many derivatives beyond. |
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In the modern world, the name Alan was particularly popular among American parents in the early to mid-20th century, and is very widely used in Ireland and Britain. Allen is an English spelling of the name, Allan a Scottish English spelling, Ailean a Scottish Gaelic spelling and Ailín the Irish version. The Welsh spelling Alun is rarely used outside of Wales, and the name is occasionally seen spelled Alyn, Welsh pronunciation is different (pronounced Alin). The name is also used as a surname, usually spelled Allen or Ó hAilín in Irish. Related surnames include Alanson, Allanshaw, and Allenby. |
In the modern world, the name Alan was particularly popular among American parents in the early to mid-20th century, and is very widely used in Ireland and Britain. Allen is an English spelling of the name, Allan a Scottish English spelling, Ailean a Scottish Gaelic spelling and Ailín the Irish version. The Welsh spelling Alun is rarely used outside of Wales, and the name is occasionally seen spelled Alyn, Welsh pronunciation is different (pronounced Alin). The name is also used as a surname, usually spelled Allen or Ó hAilín in Irish. Related surnames include Alanson, Allanshaw, and Allenby. |
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One theoretical but unrelated origin, is from the [[Alans]] and the derivative in Spanish from this, is ''[[Alano Español]]'', a type of dog. |
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Forms in other languages of Alan include ''Alain'' in French and ''Alano'' in Spanish. |
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Revision as of 09:14, 19 February 2009
| Pronunciation | AL-an |
|---|---|
| Gender | Male |
| Origin | |
| Word/name | Scottish, Breton, English, Welsh, Irish, French |
| Meaning | Rock, Little Rock, Handsome |
| Other names | |
| Related names | Aelian, Aelius, Helios |
| Medieval form of Gallo-Roman name, conflated with unrelated native Breton name and retained for their popularization. | |
Usage: Scottish, Breton, English, Welsh, Irish, French
Pronounced: Al-an
Alternative Spellings: Allan, Allen, Alen, Allyn, Alun, Ailín, Alain, Elian
It was introduced to England by Bretons before and after the Norman Conquest of England, having been popularized in their province as the misspelled name of Allorus (feast date 27 Dec.), bishop of Quimper. Having a similar name and feast date only a month apart, Allorus was thus conflated with Saint Alan (feast date 25 Nov.) of Lavaur Cathedral in Gascony near Toulose, whose name was a Vulgar Latin spelling of Aelianus, being recorded variously Alen or Elan. Aelianus is a developed form of Aelius, itself a Roman borrowing of the Greek Helios. The name is interpreted as meaning either "little rock" or "handsome" in Breton, and "harmony" in some Celtic languages.
In the modern world, the name Alan was particularly popular among American parents in the early to mid-20th century, and is very widely used in Ireland and Britain. Allen is an English spelling of the name, Allan a Scottish English spelling, Ailean a Scottish Gaelic spelling and Ailín the Irish version. The Welsh spelling Alun is rarely used outside of Wales, and the name is occasionally seen spelled Alyn, Welsh pronunciation is different (pronounced Alin). The name is also used as a surname, usually spelled Allen or Ó hAilín in Irish. Related surnames include Alanson, Allanshaw, and Allenby.
One theoretical but unrelated origin, is from the Alans and the derivative in Spanish from this, is Alano Español, a type of dog.