A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Alman family lines. Documented in 2 countries.
knightChivalry and service in armsJ. B. Rietstap, Armorial Général, Gouda: G. B. van Goor Zonen, 1884–87
Blazon (the actual original written record)“De gu. au guerrier, arm. de toutes”
The Alman arms were recorded in Zeeland, c. 1815.
Zeeland was a scatter of islands in the south-west of the Netherlands, living on the sea and on land reclaimed from it. Families who drained and held that land were counted among the gentry, and gentry carried arms.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Netherlands in this period.
Reigning in Netherlands when the Alman arms are first recorded.
In the Netherlands, coats of arms were often used by noble families and those who held specific public offices. These arms were passed down through the generations to legitimate descendants. Younger branches of a family usually kept the original design without needing to add special marks. This system ensured that the family identity remained clear and consistent over many years.
The family name Alman has deep roots in the coastal province of Zeeland, where records confirm members of the family were living by the year 1815. During this period, the Netherlands was undergoing significant social changes following the end of the Napoleonic era and the formation of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands. Families in Zeeland often lived in close-knit communities shaped by the challenging landscape of islands, polders, and the constant influence of the North Sea. The name itself likely originated as a descriptive term, potentially referring to someone of Germanic or "Alemannic" origin, which was a common way to label outsiders or travelers in medieval Europe. As the family established their life in Zeeland, they became part of the local fabric of maritime trade and agriculture that defined the region. By the early 19th century, the formal registration of surnames became more strictly enforced by the government, helping to solidify the Alman name in official civil records that track the family's growth and movement across the Dutch provinces.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
cross symbolChristian faith and serviceSir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)“Per bend or and sa. a cross potent counterchanged”
The Alman arms were recorded in Sussex, c. 1620.
Sussex had ironworks in its woods and good farmland on its downs. Both made money, and families who made it bought manors, which is what put their names in the heraldic records.
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.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
Reigning in Netherlands when the Alman arms are first recorded.
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
The family name Alman has deep roots in the English landscape, with historical records confirming that members of the family were established in the county of Sussex by the year 1620. The name likely originated as a descriptive term used to identify people who had migrated from Germany, as the word was historically linked to the Old French term for a German person. During the seventeenth century, families in Sussex often lived in small, rural communities where they worked in agriculture or local trades. Because surnames were still becoming fixed during this era, the presence of the Alman name in Sussex suggests that these early ancestors were likely settled landowners or skilled laborers who had integrated into the local parish life. By maintaining a consistent presence in the region, the family became part of the social fabric of southern England, contributing to the local economy and the development of their community over several generations.
A Latinized term referring to a person of Germanic origin.
