This interesting surname derives from the Anglo-Saxon male given name "Aladrich" which is composed of the Old English, Old German elements "ald" meaning old plus "rich" rule. The surname is first recorded it the mid 13th Century, (see below). One, William ailriht, is noted in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire (1279) and Roger Alrigh, appears in the Calendar of Letter Books for Kent (1457). In the modern idiom the surname has many spelling variations including Alwright, Allright, Alright, Allwrite, Oldwright, etc.. On February 18th 1610, Anne Allright married Symon Clareinge, at St. Margaret's, Westminster. Sibwell, daughter of William and Jane Allwright, was christened on January 19th 1661, at St. Mary Whitechapel, Stepney. The marriage of Margaret Allwright to Richard Barnbrook, took place on August 2nd 1668, at St. Pancras Old Church, London. The Coat of Arms granted to the Allwright family depicts a gold bend (diagonal band) on a red shield with three sinister silver bendlets, the centre one surmounting the bend. The bend represents the shoulder belt of the armament worn about the shoulder and arm of the warrior, and signifies Defence or Protection. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of William Ailricht, which was dated 1250, "Liber Feodorum", Bedfordshire, during the reign of King Henry 111, "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.