Allan

Allan is a masculine given name and a surname. It is a variant of Alan/Allen and has been used in English-speaking countries since the Middle Ages. In addition to being a given name, Allan also appears as a family name in Scotland and elsewhere.

The name Allan is generally treated as a variant of Alan/Allen. The name Alan originated in medieval Brittany as a form of Alain; the exact origin remains uncertain. The surname Allan may derive from the given name, or from toponymic or patronymic sources.

Today, Allan remains common in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; in the United States it is more common as a surname than a given name. Spelling variants include Allan, Alan, Allen, and Allyn.

Notable people with the given name include Allan Border, an Australian cricket player and former captain. Allan Quatermain is a fictional explorer in H. Rider Haggard's adventure novels. The surname Allan is borne by various figures in public life, including politicians and athletes.