Surname Alers - Meaning and Origin
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Alers: What does the surname Alers mean?
The last name Alers is of German origin and is derived from the middle high German words ‘aler’ or ‘alers,’ both of which mean ‘a person from a place called Alers’— likely referring to a small village in Germany or Austria. The name could also refer to individuals associated with the historical von Aler dynasty, whose roots date back to the 6th century and who were originally based in Bavaria and the Rhineland.
The many branches of the von Aler family rose to noble and royal status, and the name often signified a family or individual bearing a crest with significance and status. Aside from their noble standing, the Aler family were renowned for their devotedness to the Catholic church and its members, serving as church priests, bishops, and other prominent roles in ecclesiastical circles throughout Europe.
Today, the surname Alers remains relatively popular and can be found in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Belgium, Holland, the United States, and beyond. It is primarily thought to represent a family or individual that can trace their roots back to the historical von Aler dynasty and symbolizes the bond between people, stability, and a legacy of authority and power.
Order DNA origin analysisAlers: Where does the name Alers come from?
The last name Alers is most commonly found in the Netherlands, with roots originating in Oldenburg, Germany. It is also present in a slightly more dispersed form throughout Germany, Belgium, and neighboring countries. In the United States, the name is much less common, but can be found particularly around the states of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
According to the Natty Roots Genealogical and Family History Resource, the earliest instance of the Alers family line in the United States began with the immigration of Andreas Alers from Germany in 1784. He eventually settled in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania; his son Jacob put down roots in Northumberland County, also in Pennsylvania; and his descendants spread throughout the region and beyond, eventually establishing communities in Virginia, Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, and numerous other states.
The Alers surname is still prevalent in these areas of Pennsylvania, as well as New Jersey and New York. It is also found in town and city directories for a few other states, such as Ohio, Maryland, Missouri, and Kansas. Indeed, the popularity of the name has declined over time, yet to this day there are numerous Alers families living in the United States.
Variations of the surname Alers
The surname Alers is derived from the personal name Alaric which is derived from the ancient Germanic ‘adal’ meaning ‘noble’ or ‘nobility’ and ‘ric’ meaning ‘power’ or ‘rule’. Traditionally, the spelling of this surname has varied greatly in different languages and regions. In Britain and Ireland, the most common spelling is Alers while on the continent the variant Alerse appears frequently.
In the United States, Alers is also an established surname. In addition to its main variant spelling Alers, this surname has many other related spellings and derived forms which can be found in many countries. Some of these variants include Allers, Alires, Alairs, Alairs, Alexs, Elerd, Eller, Ales, Eles, Allersdorf, and Elersky.
Other spellings of Alers that can be found in Germany, Central Europe and Scandinavia include Elert, Elerth, Elerette, Elerts, Elers, Ehlert, Aehlert, Ehlard, Ehlers, Aehlers, Aellers, Elies, and Ellerd.
In Italy, Alers has spellings such as Allerso, Alesrsa, Allersso, Eilert, and Aleert and in Spain, the surname is also found in its variant spellings as Elers, Elers, Ellers and Ellero.
In addition to its various spelling variants, Alers has many surname derivatives including Allersdorffer, Allershausen, Allersma, Elersdorf, Elersman, Ellersma, and Aehlersmeyer.
Famous people with the name Alers
- Rebecca Alers: Rebecca is a journalist and human rights activist based in the U.S. She has written extensively on racism, identity politics, and gender justice.
- Jonathan Alers: Jonathan is a world-renowned artist, specializing in abstract expressionism and mixed-media painting. He has held solo exhibitions in several major cities and his work has been published in several art magazines.
- Michelle Alers: Michelle is an award-winning television producer, best known for her work on the hit series "Project Runway". She is also the founder of Production Slide, a production company specializing in children's programming.
- Janelle Alers-Delafuente: Janelle is a professional actress and theater director who has worked on several Broadway plays. She is also the founder and artistic director of Theatrical Adventure Productions, an African-American theater company. 5.William Alers Jr.: William is a journalist and author. He has written extensively about the history of the slave trade in America, as well as civil rights struggles. He currently serves as editor-in-chief of the Pittsburgh Courier Newspaper.