ORIGIN OF “ALLIX” AND “ALIX” SURNAME:

ETYMOLOGY OF ALLIS / ALIX:

The French surname “Alix” (or “Allix”) is a matronymic surname. “Alix” is the oldest form of the female baptismal name Alice, which is itself derived from Adelaide. Adelaide is a name of Germanic origin, “Adalhaid” (from adal: “noble family” + heit: “state, rank”). The Alix/Allix surname was usually anglicized to “Allis” outside of France (eg. with immigration to the Netherlands & England).

Matronymic last names were often given to children of unwed mothers. Other times when a woman was especially well known or powerful, her descendants would adopt a matronym based on her name… Although many English matronyms were given to children of unwed mothers, it was not unusual for children of married women to also use a matronymic surname. For instance, it was traditional during the Middle Ages for children whose fathers died before their births to use a matronym, and it was not unheard of for children to be given a matronym if the father’s name was foreign, difficult to pronounce, or had an unfortunate meaning. A child of a strong-minded woman might also take a matronym, as might a child whose name would otherwise be confused with that of a cousin or neighbour. ”

According to Wikipedia, surnames derived from matronyms can be found in France, especially in Normandy, for example: Catherine, Marie, Jeanne, & Adeline: “In medieval Normandy (Duchy of Normandy), a matronymic might be used when the mother was of greater prominence than the father or the basis for a claim of inheritance.”

EARLY ALLIX’S IN FRANCE:

Although Alix (or Allix) is a somewhat uncommon French surname, it’s early roots cannot be traced to one particular area of France. Some of the early Alix/Allix’s are below (from 1500-1550):

• Perinne Allix & Heliot Hodee => daughter Jeanne Hodee born in 1502 in Pannece
• Jean Allix => daughter Francoise Allix born in 1509 in Pannece
• Massine Alix (1509-1580) (Rouen) (married Etienne Marsolet)
• Julienne Alix born 1520 (Moncontour)
• Denise Alix (1535-1570) (Aubervilliers)
• Richard Alix (1539-1564) (Cancale)
• Pierre Alix & Jehanne Thebault => child Guyonne Alix born 1547 (Langan)
• Michel Allix (1547-1624), died in Montaigu-La-Brisette
• Cecille Alix married Nicolas De St Omer in 1550 (Haucourt)

In the 1700s and 1800s the surnames “Allix” and “Alix” were most commonly found in North-West France (“Allix” was most commonly found in Manche; and “Alix” was most commonly found in Manche and Ille-Et-Vilaine).

ORIGIN OF JEAN ISEDORE’S “ALLIX” ANCESTORS:

Jean Isedore’s wedding documents declare that that he was born in 1776 in “Le Theil” Basse-Normandie to Pierre Andre Guillaume Allix & Marie Cecile Demaure.

There is a former commune called “Le Theil” that is located in Manche, Basse-Normandie. It’s since been merged into Gonneville-le-Theil.

We have not been able to trace any written records for Jean Isedore or his parents in Le Theil or nearby towns.

The Allix/Alix’s that Jean Isedore is descended from probably lived in the Manche area of Basse-Normandie. The earliest ones probably lived in Montaigu-La-Brisette and were descended from Michel Allix (1547-1624), or a member of his family. Most of the descendants later moved to Saint-Pierre-Eglise (and a few lived in the little village of “Le Theil” or in other towns in Manche).