Allred
An English surname that likely began as a nickname or place-based name built from old words for “old” and “red.”
The #1,947 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 16,666 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Allred is usually explained as an English surname formed from older words meaning “old” and “red.” In that reading, it likely started as a descriptive nickname for someone with red hair, a ruddy complexion, or some other red-associated trait, though some families may have taken the name from a place-name or from an altered older form of another surname. The exact origin is not fully settled, so the name is best treated as probably descriptive rather than definitely tied to one single source.
History
The surname is found in English records and later became more familiar in the United States, especially through migration from Britain and the development of distinct family lines. In America it is now most strongly associated with southern and western states, where the name has been established for generations. Because spelling was fluid in earlier periods, some modern Allred families may descend from related forms or local variants.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Allred is one of several surnames whose sound has encouraged folk-etymology: people often assume it means “all red,” even though its history is older and probably not that simple.