The surname of ALLCORN was a locational name 'of Alchorne' a manor in the parish of Rotherfield, County Sussex, where the family lived in the 14th century. Local surnames, by far the largest group, derived from a place name where the man held land or from the place from which he had come, or where he actually lived. These local surnames were originally preceded by a preposition such as "de", "atte", "by" or "in". The names may derive from a manor held, from working in a religious dwelling or from literally living by a wood or marsh or by a stream. Early records of the name mention Richard Halchein, County Oxford, 1273. Stephan Alcorn, County Kent, ibid. Thomas Alcorne was documented in County Essex in the year 1300, and Richard Alcorne appears in Lancashire in 1379. Later instances of the name include Alex Alchorne of Southampton who married at St. Dionis Backchurch, London in 1695. The name is also spelt as Alchin, Alchorn and Alcorn. Between the 11th and 15th centuries it became customary for surnames to be assumed in Europe, but they were not commonplace in England or Scotland before the Norman Conquest of 1066. They are to be found in the Domesday Book of 1086. Those of gentler blood assumed surnames at this time, but it was not until the reign of Edward II (1327-1377) that it became common practice for all people.