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Alsop History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Alsop History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Etymology of Alsop

What does the name Alsop mean?

The name Alsop is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in Alsop-le-Dale, a chapelry in the parish of Ashbourne, in the county of Derbyshire. "Alsop is the Elleshope of the Domesday Survey. The manor was given by the crown to William de Ferrars, Earl of Derby, from whom it passed in succession to various families. " 1

"This ancient race were seated at Alsop-in-the-Dale, (Alsop-Le-Dale) in Derbyshire, about the time of the Conquest, and there continued in an uninterrupted descent for 19 or 20 generations." 2

Early Origins of the Alsop family

The surname Alsop was first found in Derbyshire in the midland of England where the Pipe Rolls of 1175 include and entry for Gamel de Haleshoppe. Later, Philip Alsope was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Cheshire. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls also included: William Alsape, Cambridgeshire; and Elena Alsope, Cambridgeshire. 4

"The ancient and distinguished family of Alsop were seated at Alsop-in-the-Dale, in the parish of Ashbourn, at the time of the Norman Conquest, and there they continued for 19 or 20 generations. Of this family there are numerous branches, of which the Allsopps of Burton form one. There was a Richard de Alsop of Shropshire in the 13th century. The name is also found in the surrounding counties, but Derbyshire is its great home." 5

Moving forward a few centuries, we did find these interesting entries in Hotten's Lists of Emigrants, (pp. 58, 78, 12): Joseph Alsopp (aged 14) went out to New England in the Elizabeth in 1635. Also Thomas Alsopp (aged 20). Also Robert Alsopp aged 18. 4

In Scotland, "this surname occurs in the Aberdeen Directory, and is most probably of recent introduction from England. From Alsop in the county of Derby." 6

Early History of the Alsop family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Alsop research. Another 47 words (3 lines of text) covering the years 1580, 1601, 1603, 1616, 1626, 1630, 1637, 1641, 1656, 1696, 1703, 1706, 1726 and 1752 are included under the topic Early Alsop History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Alsop Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Alsop were recorded, including Allsopp, Allsop, Alsopp, Alsop, Elleshope and others.

Early Notables of the Alsop family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Vincent Alsop (ca...
Anthony Alsop (d. 1726), was an English poetical writer, educated at Westminster and Christ Church, Oxford, where he took his...
Vincent Alsop (d. 1703), was a celebrated nonconformist divine and was 'a Northamptonshire man.' 7...

Alsop Ranking

In the United States, the name Alsop is the 14,697^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 8

Alsop migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Alsop family emigrate to North America:

Alsop Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Joseph Alsop who settled in New Haven in 1635, in 1647 he married Elizabeth Preston
Joseph Alsop, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1635 9
Thomas Alsop, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1635 9
Timothy Alsop, who landed in New Haven, Connecticut in 1646 9
Christopher Alsop, who landed in Maryland in 1649 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Alsop Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Richard Alsop, who arrived in Long Island in 1718 9

Alsop Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Nathaniel Alsop, who arrived in New Jersey in 1811 9
George B Alsop, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1849 9
George H Alsop, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 9

Alsop migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Alsop Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Francis Alsop, (b. 1795), aged 21, English sailor who was convicted in London, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" in May 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1861 10
John Alsop, English convict from Northampton, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on July 3, 1822, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 11
Mr. Samuel Alsop, (b. 1806), aged 27, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for life for robbery, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 27th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
William Alsop, English convict from Derby, who was transported aboard the "Anson" on September 23, 1843, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 13
J. Alsop, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sir Charles Forbes" in 1849 14

Alsop migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Alsop Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Alfred Alsop, (b. 1862), aged 3, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 1st January 1866 15
Mr. Arthur Alsop, (b. 1860), aged 5, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 1st January 1866 15
Miss Clara Alsop, (b. 1858), aged 7, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 1st January 1866 15
Mr. Thomas E. Alsop, (b. 1855), aged 10, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 1st January 1866 15
Mrs. Ann Alsop, (b. 1831), aged 34, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 1st January 1866 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Alsop (post 1700) +

Stewart Alsop Jr. (b. 1952), American journalist and businessman
Stewart Alsop (1914-1974), American newspaper columnist and political analyst
Marin Alsop (b. 1956), American conductor
Joseph Alsop (1910-1989), American journalist
John Alsop (1724-1794), American delegate to the Continental Congress
Julian Alsop (b. 1973), English footballer
Gilbert Alsop (1908-1992), English footballer
William Allen "Will" Alsop OBE RA (1947-2018), British architect and Professor of Architecture at University for the Creative Arts's Canterbury School of Architecture
Vincent Alsop (1630-1703), British Nonconformist clergyman
Adelaïde Alsop Robineau (1865-1929), American painter, potter and ceramist, considered one of the top ceramists of her era

The Alsop Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Festina lente
Motto Translation: Be quick without impetuosity.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 1st March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 155 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1822
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anson voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1843 with 499 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anson/1843
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SIR CHARLES FORBES originally CHARLES FORBES 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849SirCharlesForbes.gif
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html