ALLCORN
Allcorn is a surname of English provenance, first recorded in the mid‑fourteenth century. The earliest extant entry is that of John Awldcorn, dated 1446 in the Leasing Records of the Mill of Kethyk in Scotland, during the reign of King James I (1437–1460). Subsequent entries appear in Scotland as well, notably the spellings Aldcorn in Stirling in 1448 and Aldcorne in 1476.
In England, the name is documented from the sixteenth century onward. A record on 16th September 1540 notes the christening of Margery Allchorn, daughter of Thomas, in Rotherfield, Sussex. Further baptisms record the name in London on 8th January 1692 (Susannah Alcorn in St. Paul's, Covent Garden, Westminster) and in Sussex on 23rd March 1723 (the marriage of Elizabeth Alcorn and Richard Pierce in Friston).
Several etymological explanations exist for the surname. One tradition derives it from the Old English personal name Al(c)weald, meaning *noble ruler*, coupled with the word corn (a granary or storehouse). Under this view, Allcorn would signify a *noble ruler of the granary* or a ruler associated with agriculture. Alternative reconstructions cite the Old English name Aelfhere, meaning *elf army*, or the form Allchere, in which the elements alch (noble) and here (army) appear. The suffix corn remains common in place‑related surnames to indicate proximity to cereal cultivation. These varying origins illustrate the complexity of tracing medieval naming practices and the fluidity of phonetic spelling in that era.
Historically, the name is associated with the Sussex place‑name Alchorn, a manor in the parish of Rotherfield. The component elements of that locational name are believed to be Al(d)ca (an Old‑E English pre‑7th‑century personal name) and horn, literally *horn*, used here to denote a projecting spur of a hill (i.e. Alca’s hill). According to Patronymica Britannica, a family bearing the name Alchorne lived in Rotherfield in the fourteenth century. Despite its Scottish associations today, the earliest recorded use in England points to this Sussex origin.
Modern distribution data indicate that the surname remains relatively uncommon worldwide, with the highest concentrations in England’s East Sussex County and in the United States’ Texas state. Occasional occurrences appear in Canada and other English‑speaking countries, reflecting historical migration patterns. The name survives in several variant forms, including Allcorne, Allcorns, Alcorn, Alcorne, and Alcoran. These variants arose from inconsistent orthography before standardised spelling became widespread, and from phonetic transcription by record keepers of varied literacy levels.
While the literal meaning of the name may have faded behind its function as an identifier, the surviving historical records provide a clear picture of its English origins, early documentary presence in both England and Scotland, and the range of scholarly interpretations of its etymology.
Typical given names associated with the Allcorn surname
Male
- Alan
- Bryce
- Christopher
- David
- Gary
- Kevin
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Philip
- Richard
- Roger
Female
- Carolyn
- Emma
- Jane
- Jennifer
- Joanne
- Linda
- Margaret
- Maria
- Patricia
- Phyllis
- Samantha
- Sarah
- Stephanie
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Allcorn in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 457 people named Allcorn in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around seven in a million people in Britain are named Allcorn.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
