Recorded as Allanby, Allenby, Allonby, Allamby, and Allemby, this is an ancient English locational surname. It originates from either of two small villages in the county of Cumberland called Allonby and Ellonby. The former is recorded in the Close Rolls of the county in 1274 as "Aleynby", whilst Ellonby appears in the Charter Rolls of 1267 as "Alemby". Both placenames are comparatively late formations (post Norman Conquest of 1066), and both share the same meaning and derivation, which is "Alein's farm". This is from the male personal name "Alein", meaning it is said, a spur, with the Norse word "-by", meaning a farm. Amongst the early examples of the surname recording are those of John Alomby, who was listed in the Register of the Freemen of the City of York in 1522, and Francis and Thomas Alanbye of Cumberland, are both recorded in the Oxford University Register of 1581, whilst the marriage was recorded in Cumberland of Robert Allonby and Catheren Borradell on May 28th 1589, at Holme Cultram. Amongst the heroes of the First Word War was General Henry Allenby, (1861 - 1936), later 1st Viscount Allenby. His successful campaign in Palestine in 1917 against the Turks, was one of the few clear cut achievements of that war. Even this was later lost by political ineptitude. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Adam de Aleynby. This was dated 1332, in the Subsidy Tax Rolls of Cumberland, during the reign of King Edward 111rd of Engalnd, 1327 - 1377. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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