Alen Coat of Arms Record & History

A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alen family of Ireland.

Reg. 6195 · Irish, A–C

Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details

Where the Alen Arms Were Recorded

Kildare
Map of Ireland showing where the Alen arms are recorded

The Alen arms were recorded in Kildare, c. 1551.

Kildare was flat grazing country close to Dublin, taken early by Norman families. Being near the seat of government meant being near where arms were recorded, which is why so many Kildare names appear.

This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.

Region
Kildare
First recorded
1551

Granting Authority for the Alen Arms

Arms of Ulster King of Arms
Ulster King of Arms Sodacan · CC BY-SA 3.0
Authority

Ulster King of Arms

 

The body that granted and recorded arms in Ireland in this period.

Portrait of Edward VI of England
Edward VI of England
Sovereign of the period

Edward VI of England

1547–1553

Reigning in Ireland when the Alen arms are first recorded.

How Arms Worked in Ireland

The Ulster King of Arms granted coats of arms to individuals who proved their social standing and good character. These symbols were typically inherited by all legitimate descendants of the original holder. If a family branch wanted a unique look, they could apply for a specific change to their design through the office to ensure their identity remained distinct.

Granting authority
The Ulster King of Arms acted as the official body that regulated and issued all coats of arms throughout Ireland.
How they got arms
Families obtained their arms through formal grants issued by the office after proving their eligibility and paying the required fees.
Where arms were recorded
All official grants were recorded in the registers held by the Ulster King of Arms starting from the year 1552.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Kildare.

Origin & History of the Alen Family in Ireland

The Alen family name has deep roots in County Kildare, where members of the family established themselves as prominent figures by the mid-sixteenth century. Historical records confirm their presence in the region by 1551, a time when the family became closely linked to the administration of lands and local governance. The name is often associated with the Anglo-Norman influence in Ireland, as families of this background frequently served as officials or landowners who helped shape the political landscape of the Pale. Over the generations, the Alens became well-integrated into the social fabric of Kildare, often holding positions of trust that allowed them to influence the development of their local communities. Their early history reflects the broader transition of families who moved into Ireland during periods of political change and eventually became deeply tied to the history of their specific counties.

Related Branches & Arms

Root word
Alain

Derived from the ancient Celtic tribe known as the Alani.

This name
AlenA surname of Gaelic origin meaning handsome, cheerful, or harmonious.
also spelled
Allyn
Alleyn
Related arms
Alanvariant spelling
Alleynvariant spelling
Allynvariant spelling

Documented Sources

Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884

Archdall, Mervyn, Monasticon Hibernicum, 1786

The National Archives of Ireland, Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns, Record Series: Chancery Records

White, Newport B., Extents of Irish Monastic Possessions, 1540-1541, 1943

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