Allan
A Scottish and English surname that usually comes from the personal name Alan, often understood as meaning “handsome” or “cheerful.”
The #3,022 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 26,017 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Allan is usually a surname taken from the personal name Alan or Alain. The name is traditionally linked by older writers to Celtic words meaning “fair,” “handsome,” or “bright,” though some sources also note a possible Gaelic sense like “cheerful” or “graceful.” In practice, the surname is best understood as a patronymic from the given name rather than from a place or occupation.
History
The name became established in Britain through the medieval popularity of Alan/Alain, especially in Scotland and northern England. It also appears in Scottish family names such as Mac Allan, showing the same personal-name root. In modern usage Allan is especially common in Scotland, with Allen often serving as a related spelling elsewhere.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname dictionaries sometimes argued over whether the personal name behind Allan should be explained from Welsh/Breton “fair, handsome” roots or from Gaelic descriptive words, which is why the entry can look more uncertain than the surname itself.
From the historical record
“needle + O.N. by-r, farmstead, estate] ALLAN 1 (Celt.) Tlie Wei. Alun and Bret. ALLEN J Alan or Alain are doubtless cogn. with Gael, alainn = Ir. dluin{n, dlain{n, O.lv. alaind, 'bright,' 'fair,' ' handsome.' ALLMAN (A.-Fr.-Lat.-Teut.) a more likely etymology is given under D'Allemagne in the Appendix of Foreign…”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)