The Altman family name dates back to 1066 when the Norman Conquest of England introduced a plethora of new names and words into Britain. It comes from an early member of the family who was a person or family of German heritage. Further research showed the name was derived from the Anglo-Norman-French word aleman, which means German. Research of the Chronicles of England indicates the name Altman to be of Norman origin, ranking amongst the oldest. The history of the name is an intricate cross-weave within the fabric of the tapestry of ancient Britain.

            Detailed research by skilled analyst examining such ancient manuscripts as the Doomsday Book (compiled in 1086 by William the Conqueror), the Ragman Rolls, the Inquisitios, the Wace poem, the Honour Roll of the Battel Abbey, The Curia Regis, Pipe Rolls, the Falaise Roll, tax records, baptismals, family genealogies, local parish and church records show the first record of the name Altman was found in the country or parish of Caen in Normandy, where it is believed to have departed and accompanied Duke William at the time of the Conquest of England in 1066.

            Alternative spellings were traced in the archives, linked to a common root, typically one of the Norman nobles or warriors at the Battle of Hastings. Although your name, Altman, occurred in many references, from time to time, included amongst the spellings were, Almayne, Alman, Allman, Almand, Allmand, Hallman, Allmaine, Almon, Altman, Ellman, Dalman, Dallman, and these changes in spelling occurred even between father and son. Scribes recorded the name phonetically, as it sounded. Many people were born with one spelling, married with another, and buried with another. All three spellings were one and the same person. Sometimes kinsmen and women spelled their names, as they liked, indicating a different branch of the family, a religious preference, or something to proclaim a national heritage.

The surname Altman is believed to have arrived in England from Normandy, a race frequently but mistakenly assumed to be of French origin. More accurately they were of Viking origin. The Vikings landed in the Orkneys and Northern Scotland about the year 870 A.D., under their King, Stirgud the Stout. Thorfinn Rollo, his descendants, landed in northern France about the year 911 A.D. The French King, Charles the Simple, after Rollo laid siege to Paris, finally conceded defeat and granted northern France to Rollo. Rollo was the first Duke of the newly created land of Normandy.

            Duke William compiled a census of most of England in 1086, a census that became known a century later as the Doomsday Book. It became the authority, the point of departure, for the ownership of land in England.

            The surname Altman emerged as a distinguished English family name in the country of Sussex. Such was the extent of valour of this noble that the King granted him the lands Pevensey, the sight of the Battle of Hastings, in Sussex. The original estates of the family were later taken over by the families of Parnell and Meres in marriage, about the 14^th century. A branch of the Almans were recorded at Warbleton in the country of Sussex, and the family also branched north to Coldingham in Scotland where Richard d’Alman held lands in 1304. Notable amongst the family at this time was Richard d’Alman.

            The surname Altman added much influence to the local social and political life and to the affairs of England. During the 12^th century many of these Norman families moved north to Scotland in the train of the Earl of Huntingdon, late to become King, David of Scotland. The 16^th, 17^th and 18^th centuries brought many religious and political injustices. The Monarchy, the Church and Parliament fought for supremacy. Religion was divided by, Church of State, the Roman Church and the Reform Church. Each faction, in its time, imposed its influence and penalties on rich and poor alike. Loyalties were engineered, marriages were arranged to acquire greater possessions, estates and influence at court. Many families were freely “encouraged” to migrate to Ireland, or to the “colonies.” Nonbelievers or dissidents were banished, sometimes even hanged.

            The settlers in Ireland became known as Adventurers for land in Ireland. They contracted to keep the protestant faith, both for their families, and also for those who worked for them. They became one of the earliest Anglo-Norman settlers in Ireland, where they settled in County Louth at Almanstown. By the time of the Cromwellian settlement they were truly and almost native Irish family. By 1800 they were numerous in Tralee and Killarney.

            The rumors of the attraction of the New World spread like wildfire. Many sailed aboard the fleet of sailing ships known as the “White Sails.” The stormy Atlantic, small pox, dysentery, cholera and typhoid took its toll of the settlers and many of the overcrowded ships arrived with only 60 or 79% of their passenger list. The migration or banishment to the New World continued, some went voluntarily to Ireland, but most directly from England or Scotland, their home territories. Some clans and families even moved to the European continent.

            In North America, immigrants bearing the family name Altman, or one of its spelling variations included John Altman who settled in Philadelphia in 1764; Simon Alman in 1709; Stephen Almand in 1749; H. Almand in Norfolk, Virginia, in 1820. From the port of arrival many settlers joined the wagon trains westward. During the American War of Independence some declared their loyalty to the Crown and moved northward into Canada and became known as the United Empire Loyalist.

            From recent notable bearers of the Altman surname include: Warren Allmand, Canadian Lawyer and Politician; Sidney Altman, Yale University professor, who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1989; Bond Almand, Judge Atlanta, Georgia.

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