Allen (surname)

Allen
Origin
Word/name	Insular Celtic
Meaning	"little rock", "harmony", "great" and "handsome"
Region of origin	Scotland, Ireland, England
Other names
Variant form(s)	Alan, Allan, MacAllen

Allen is a Celtic surname, originating from Ireland, and common in Scotland, Wales and England. It is a variation of the surname MacAllen and may be derived from two separate sources: Ailin, in Irish and Scottish Gaelic, means both "little rock" and "harmony", or it may also be derived from the Celtic Aluinn, which means "handsome". Variant spellings include Alan, Allan, etc.

In Portugal, George Allen, an early 18th century trader from England, settled in Porto; he is the first of the Portuguese Allen family – deeply involved in port wine and dating back to 1701 in Portugal – that still owns the noble mansion Quinta de Villar d'Allen, their country estate for more than 180 years (1839).^[1]^[2] George Allen was a descendant of Henry Allen, Lord of the Manor of Buckenhall in Staffordshire in 1290, and probably of one Alanus de Buckenhall, from whom all the Allens of Staffordshire were said to have descended.

In Ireland, Allen is the Anglicization of the Gaelic name Ó h-Ailín.^[3] Allen is the 41st most common surname in England.^[4]

Pages listing several people with the same name

A

A. A. Allen (1911–1970), American Pentecostal evangelist
Abner P. Allen (1839–1905), American Medal of Honor recipient
A. J. Allen (born 1998), Canadian football player
Alexander Viets Griswold Allen (1841–1908), American Episcopal theologian
Alf Allen (1912–1987), New Zealand politician
Angela Allen, English paedophile convicted in the 2009 Plymouth child abuse case
Ann Evelyn Allen, better known as Angela Stevens (1925–2016), American actress
Anson Allen (1838–1880), American politician
Anthony Adrian Allen (1913–2010), British entomologist
Arnold Allen (born 1994), English mixed martial arts fighter
Arnold Allen (mathematician), American computer scientist
Arthur Augustus Allen (1885–1964), American ornithologist
Ashley Allen (born 1968), American model and actress
Austin Allen (baseball) (born 1994), American baseball player

B

Barry Allen (musician) (1945–2020), Canadian rock musician and record producer
Bernadette Allen (born 1956), U.S. diplomat
Bert Allen (footballer, born 1883) (1883–1911), English footballer
Beverly Allen (born 1945), Australian botanical artist
Bianca Allen, American voice actress
Bobby Allen (racing driver) (born 1943), American racing driver
Bobby Allen (ice hockey) (born 1978), American ice hockey player
Bradley Allen (born 1971), English footballer
Braelon Allen (born 2004), American football player
Brenda A. Allen, American psychologist and president of Lincoln University (Pennsylvania)
Brevin Allen (born 2000), American football player
Brittany Allen (born 1986), Canadian actress
Bryn Allen (1921–2005), Welsh international footballer
Bryon Allen (born 1992), American basketball player in Israeli Basketball Premier League

C

Caitilyn Allen (born 1957), American plant pathologist
Cam Allen (born 1999), American football player
Carl Meredith Allen (accused), source of the "Philadelphia Experiment" story
Carolyn Blanchard Allen (1921–2018), American politician
Carson Allen, American musician, founding member of Escape The Fate
Cecil J. Allen (1886–1973), British railway engineer and writer
Chaisson Allen (born 1989), American basketball player and coach
Cheryl Allen (born 1972), retired Canadian sprinter
Christian Allen, American video game designer
Clarence Ray Allen (1930–2006), American convicted murderer
Claude Henry Allen (1899–1974), American lawyer and politician
Clive Allen (born 1961), retired English footballer
Clive Allen (basketball) (born 1961), retired English basketball player and coach
Cody Allen (born 1988), American baseball player
Collins B. Allen (1866–1953), President of the New Jersey Senate
Conor Allen (born 1990), American ice hockey player
Corey Allen (1934–2010), American film and television director, producer, writer and actor

D

Daevid Allen (1938–2015 as Christopher David Allen), Australian musician, founder of Soft Machine and Gong
Dakarai Allen (born 1995), American professional basketball player
Dakota Allen (born 1995), American football player
Damon Allen (born 1963), Veteran American Canadian Football League quarterback
Damon Allen (figure skater), American figure skater
Daphne Allen (1899–1985), English artist
Darina Allen (born 1951), Irish chef
Dave Allen (comedian) (1936–2005), Irish comedian
Davis Allen (American football) (born 2001), American football player
Dayton Allen (1919–2004), American comedian and voice actor
Debbie Allen (born 1950), American actress and television director-producer
Deborah Allen (born 1953), American country music singer
Dede Allen (1923–2010), American film editor
Devere Allen (1891–1955), American pacifist political activist and writer
Dick Allen (1942–2020), Major League Baseball first baseman and third baseman
Dick Allen (film editor) (1944–2007), English film editor
Diogenes Allen (1932–2013), American philosopher and theologian
Dolly Allen (1906–1990), English comedian, singer and performer
Dominic Allen (born 1980), Australian film director and producer
Dominique Allen (born 1989), British basketball player
Donna Allen (singer), American dance pop singer
Dwayne Allen (born 1990), American football player

E

Ed Allen (musician) (1897–1974), American jazz trumpeter
Edgar Van Nuys Allen (1900–1961), American physician
Edmund T. Allen (1896–1943), American test pilot
Eliza Crosby Allen (1803–1848), American journal editor
Elizabeth Anne Allen (born 1970), American actress
Elsa Guerdrum Allen (1888–1969), American ornithologist and historian of ornithology
Eric Allen (born 1965), American football player
Ernie Allen (born 1946), American attorney
Esther Saville Allen (1837–1913; pen name, "Winnie Woodbine"), American author
Ethan Allen (baseball) (1904–1993), American baseball player
Ethel D. Allen (1929–1981), Pennsylvania politician

F

Fabian Allen (born 1995), Jamaican cricketer
Faimealelei Anthony Fuʻe Allen, American Samoan politician
Fanny Allen (1784–1819), American nun and nurse
Fay Allen (1939–2021), British-Jamaican police officer, the first black woman police constable in the United Kingdom
Fay Allen (teacher), American teacher
Finnley Allen, New Zealand cricketer
Fiona Allen (born 1965), English actress
Floyd Allen (1856–1913), American landowner, later convicted of murder
Frances E. Allen (1932–2020), US computer scientist, recipient of the Turing Award
Francesca Allen (born 2002), British adaptive rower
Frederick Lewis Allen (1890–1954), American historian and editor

G

Gabrielle Allen, British and American astrophysicist
Gary Allen (1936–1986), American journalist
Gavin Allen (born 1965), Australian rugby league footballer
Gareth Allen (born 1988), Welsh professional snooker player
Genevera Allen, American statistician
Geoffrey Freeman Allen (1922–1995), English author specialising in the field of railways
Georgia Allen (1919–2014), American actress
Glenn Allen Jr. (born 1970), American racing driver and team owner
Glover Morrill Allen (1879–1942), mammalogist
Gracie Allen (1895–1964), American comedian
Grant Allen (1848–1899), Canadian science writer
Gubby Allen, aka G. O. Allen (1902–1989), English cricketer

H

Hank Allen (1940–2024), Major League baseball outfielder
Hannah Allen (1638–?), British writer
Harrison Allen (1841–1897), physician and zoologist
Harvey A. Allen (c. 1818 – 1882), United States Army officer, was Commander of the Department of Alaska 1871–1873
Harry Julian Allen (1910–1977), NASA engineer and administrator
Heidi Allen (born 1975), British politician
Henry C. Allen (Virginia politician) (1838–1889), politician and lawyer from Virginia
Holless Wilbur Allen (1880–1966), inventor of the compound bow
Howard Allen (1949–2020), American serial killer

I

Isabelle Allen (born 2002), English actress
Ira Allen (1751–1814), politician from Vermont
Irwin Allen (1916–1991), American film and television producer

J

Jackie Allen (musician) (born 1959), American jazz vocalist and composer
Jake Allen (ice hockey) (born 1990), Canadian ice hockey player
James Allen (racing driver) (born 1996), Australian racing driver
James Van Allen (1914–2006), American scientist, known for the Van Allen radiation belt
Jan Allen (born 1952), Canadian curator
Jared Allen (born 1982), American football player
Jay Allen (1900–1972), American journalist
Jeff Allen (musician) (born 1946), English rock and blues session drummer
Jennifer Allen (born 1961), American author
Jermaine Allen (born 1983), English American footballer
Jimmy Allen (American football) (1952–2019), American football player
Jimmy Allen (musician), member of American rock band Against All Will
Joan Allen (born 1956), American actress
Joe Allen (born 1990), Welsh footballer
Joel Asaph Allen (1838–1921), American zoologist
John J. Allen (judge) (1797–1871), politician and judge from Virginia
Johnny Allen (racing driver) (born 1934), American racing driver
Jonathan Allen (artist) (born 1966), British visual artist, writer, and magician
Jonathan Allen (born 1995), American football player
Jordan Allen (born 1995), American professional soccer player
Joseph Henry Allen (1820–1898), Unitarian clergyman, editor and scholar
Jules Verne Allen (1883–1945), American country music singer-songwriter, writer, and cowboy

K

Kadeem Allen (born 1993), American basketball player
Karen Allen (born 1951), American actress
Karl Allen (1931–2015), American neo-Nazi
Kathleen Allen (1906–1983), British artist
Kazmeir Allen (born 2000), American football player
Keegan Allen (born 1989), American actor, photographer, author and musician
Keenan Allen (born 1992), American football player
Kenny Allen (racing driver) (born 1956), American racing driver
Kenton Allen (born 1965), British television producer
Kevin Allen (racing driver) (born 1965), American racing driver
Kevin Scott Allen (born 1957), American actor
Kiera Allen (born 1997), American actress
Kimball Allen (born 1982), American actor and writer
Kris Allen (born 1985), American musician, singer and songwriter
Krista Allen (born 1971), American actress and model
Kristin Allen (born 1992), American acrobatic gymnast
Kyle Allen (born 1996), American football player

L

Larry Allen (born 1971), American footballer
Laura Allen (born 1974), American actress
Laurence W. Allen (1892–1968), English World War I flying ace
Lavilla Esther Allen (1834–1903), American writer
Lavoy Allen (born 1989), American basketball player
Lawrence Allen Jr. (born 1959), American politician and educator
Lee Allen (musician) (1927–1994), American tenor saxophonist
Leo Allen (born 1972), American stand-up comedian
Leo E. Allen (1898–1973), American politician
LeQuint Allen (born 2004), American football player
Les Allen (born 1937), English footballer
Leslie Allen (racing driver) (1892–1946), American racing driver
Lester Allen (1891–1949), American screen, stage and vaudeville actor and film director
Lettie Annie Allen (1901–1980), New Zealand public servant, political activist, feminist and local politician
Lew Allen (1925–2010), U.S. Air Force general
Lewis F. Allen (1800–1890), farmer and politician
Lexi Allen (born 1967), American gospel singer, actress and television personality
Lillian B. Allen (1904–1995), Canadian painter and photographer
Lillian Allen (born 1951), Canadian dub poet, musician, and writer
Lily Allen (born 1985), English singer-songwriter
Lisa Allen (born 1981), British chef
Logan Allen (baseball, born 1997) (born 1997), American baseball player
Logan Allen (baseball, born 1998) (born 1998), American baseball player
Lou Allen (1924–2008), American footballer
Louisa Rose Allen (born 1989), English singer and model known as Foxes
Loy Allen Jr. (born 1966), American racing driver
Lucius Allen (born 1947), American basketball player
Luke Allen (born 1978), American baseball player
Lynn Allen (1891–1958), NFL player

M

Mac Allen (born 1985), Canadian lacrosse player
Malik Allen (born 1978), American basketball player
Mark Allen (triathlete) (born 1958), American Triathlete
Mark Allen (snooker player) (born 1986), Northern Irish snooker player
Martin Allen (born 1964), British missing person
Marty Allen (1922–2018), American comedian, actor, and philanthropist
Mary Allen (born 1951), British writer
Maryon Pittman Allen (1925–2018), American politician
Matt Allen (born 1977), American football player
Mel Allen (1913–1996), American sportscaster
Michael Allen (air navigator) (1923–2001), British air navigator and radar operator of the Royal Air Force
Michael Allen (rugby union) (born 1990), Rugby union Player
Michael Graham Allen (born 1950), player and maker of Native American flutes
Mike Allen (poet) (born 1969), American writer and poet
Myron Allen (1854–1924), American baseball player
Myrtle Allen (1924–2018), Irish chef

N

Nathaniel Allen (1780–1832), American politician
Nathaniel M. Allen (1840–1900), American soldier
Neil Allen (born 1958), American Major League baseball player
Nellie B. Allen (1874–1961), American landscape designer
Newton D. R. Allen (died 1927), American politician
Nick Allen (catcher) (1888–1939), American Major League baseball player
Nicky Allen (1958–1984), New Zealand rugby union player
Norman M. Allen (1828–1909), New York politician
Norman Percy Allen (1903–1972), British metallurgist

O

Omari Allen (born 1990), Montserratian cricketer
Orlando Allen (1803–1874), American politician—Buffalo, New York
Oscar Dana Allen (1836–1913), chemistry professor at Yale; bryophyte collector
Oscar K. Allen (1882–1936), Democratic governor of Louisiana (1932–36)

P

Paul Allen (1953–2018), co-founder of Microsoft, philanthropist
Pauline Allen (born 1948), Australian scholar of early Christianity
Percival Allen (1917–2008), British geologist
Percy Allen (politician) (1913–1992), New Zealand politician
Percy Stafford Allen (1869–1933), British classical scholar
Pete Allen (musician) (born 1954), English dixieland jazz clarinetist
Peter Allen (footballer) (1946–2023), English footballer
Peter Allen (musician) (1944–1992), Australian songwriter and singer
Peter Allen (US broadcaster) (1920–2016), American broadcaster and radio announcer
Peter Anthony Allen (1911–1964), British convicted murderer
Peter Lewis Allen (born 1957), American scholar and author
Philip Allen (Rhode Island politician) (1785–1865), American politician
Philip Allen, Baron Allen of Abbeydale (1912–2007), British civil servant
Pierre Allen (born 1987), American football player
Phog Allen (1885–1974), American athlete, coach, and physician

Q

Queenie Allen (1911–2007), English badminton player
Quincy Allen (born 1979), American serial killer

R

Rachel Allen (born 1972), Irish chef
PnB Rock born Rakim Allen (1991–2022), American rapper and singer professionally known as PnB Rock
Ralph Shuttleworth Allen (1817–1887), British Conservative Member of Parliament
The Rance Allen Group#Rance Allen (1948–2020), American Bishop, Minister, and gospel musician
Rashaun Allen (born 1990), American football player
Ray Allen (born 1975), American basketball player
Rebecca Allen (basketball) (born 1992), Australian basketball player
Red Allen (1908–1967), American jazz trumpeter
Red Allen (bluegrass) (1930–1993), American bluegrass singer and guitarist
Rex Allen (1920–1999), American actor, singer, songwriter
Ricca Allen (1863–1949), Canadian stage and film actress
Richard Knapp Allen (1925–1992), American entomologist and marine zoologist
Rick Allen (drummer) (born 1963), English rock drummer
Rick Allen (mountaineer) (1954–2021), Scottish climber
Ricky Allen (1935–2005), American blues singer
River Allen (footballer) (born 1995), English footballer
Rod Allen (advertising executive) (1929–2007), British advertising executive
Rod Allen (born 1959), American television baseball commentator
Rosalie Allen (1924–2003), American country singer, songwriter, guitarist, columnist and television and radio host
Rosalind Allen (born 1957), New Zealand-born American actress
Rose Allen, one of the Colchester Martyrs
Ruth Allen (economist) (1889–1979), American economist and academic
Ryan Allen (bass) (1943–2018), American opera singer
Ryan Allen (American football) (born 1990), American football player in the National Football League
R. G. D. Allen (Roy George Douglas Allen) (1906–1983), English economist and mathematician

S

Sadie Allen (1930–2017), British artist
Sarah Addison Allen, American author
Shaun Allen (born 1965), English professional rugby union player
Sheila Matthews Allen (1929–2013), American actress
Sheila Allen (English actress) (1932–2011), English actress
Shirley Allen, American nurse involved in 1997 "siege"
Sian Barbara Allen (1946–2025), American actress
Simon Allen (born 1983), New Zealand cricketer
Sonny Allen (1938–2020), American college basketball coach
Steve Allen (1921–2000), American actor, comedian, composer, writer

T

Taylor Allen (born 2000), English footballer
Tim Allen (born 1953), American actor
Timothy Allen (born 1971), English photographer
Timothy F. H. Allen (born 1942), British botanist
Tina Allen (1949–2008), American sculptor
Tom Allen (broadcaster) (born 1964), Canadian radio host
Toussaint Allen (1896–1960), American baseball player in the Negro leagues
Travis Allen (born 1973), American politician
Trevon Allen (born 1998), American basketball player
Tyler Allen (motorsport) (born 1987), American race engineer

V

Vic Allen (1923–2014), British Communist; trade unionist; university academic
Victor M. Allen (1870–1916), New York politician
Vince Allen (born 1955), American-Canadian football player
Viola Allen (1887–1948), American silent film and theater actress
Viv Allen (1916–1995), Canadian ice hockey player

W

Walter Allen (1911–1995), English literary critic
Ray Allen born Walter Allen (born 1975), American basketball player
Willard H. Allen (1893–1957), American state secretary of agriculture
William Allen (Armagh MP) (1866–1947), Northern Irish unionist politician
William Ross Allen (1869–1942), American politician and lawyer from Virginia
Willie Allen (racing driver) (born 1980), American racing driver
Winifred Allen (1896–1943), American actress
Woodrow M. Allen (born 1943), American politician from Maryland
Woody Allen (born 1935), American film actor and director, although not his birth name

Z

Zach Allen (born 1997), American football player

Fictional characters

Flash (Barry Allen), identity of the DC Comics hero, The Flash

Unknown

Allen (Cambridge University cricketer), active 1820s

References

^ "A toast to the Portuguese garden of John Allen". Talking Plants. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
^ "Villar d'Allen Farm". Porto Secret Spots. Retrieved 14 June 2025.
^ "Surname Search: Allen". Surname Dictionary. The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2016-05-13. Retrieved 2011-06-18.
^ Cvetinović, Luka (2024-08-09). "Allen Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History". forebears.io. Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Forebears DMCC. Archived from the original on 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-08-22.Updated 22nd August 2024

This page lists people with the surname Allen.
If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.

[1] "A toast to the Portuguese garden of John Allen". Talking Plants. 5 September 2017. Retrieved 14 June 2025.

[2] "Villar d'Allen Farm". Porto Secret Spots. Retrieved 14 June 2025.

[3] "Surname Search: Allen". Surname Dictionary. The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 2016-05-13. Retrieved 2011-06-18.

[4] Cvetinović, Luka (2024-08-09). "Allen Surname Origin, Meaning & Last Name History". forebears.io. Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Forebears DMCC. Archived from the original on 2024-05-09. Retrieved 2024-08-22.Updated 22nd August 2024

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Pages listing several people with the same name

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

V

W

Z

Fictional characters

Unknown

See also

References