This surname of was a baptismal name 'the son of Aldway'. The name was derived from the Old word 'Aeoelwig' literally meaning 'noble war'. Early records of the name mention Ailwi (without surname) who was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, and Willelmus filius Ailwi appears in 1206 in Northumberland. Peter Athelwy appears in the year 1302 in County Suffolk. Later instances of the name mention Edward Hewlinge and Elizabeth Allewaye who married in London in 1616. William Maslen married Mary Allaway, St. George's, Hanover Square, London in 1788. James Alloway married Barbara Pittett, 1786, ibid. The name is also spelt ALLOWAY and ALLAWAY. 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. In Scotland the surname is found in Aberdeen, most probably from Alloa in Clackmannanshire, an old spelling of which was Alleway. John Aulway was a Scots prisoner of war, liberated from custody in the Tower of London in 1413, and may be the same John Aloway who was servitor to King James II in the year 1440. He received a safe conduct to travel into England in the year 1417. Elizabeth Alloweius is recorded in Dumfermline in 1549 and Marion Alloway in Linlithgow is mentioned in 1684. Surnames having a derivation from nicknames form the broadest and most miscellaneous class of surnames, encompassing many different types of origin. The most typical classes refer adjectivally to the general physical aspect of the person concerned, or to his character. Many nicknames refer to a man's size or height, while others make reference to a favoured article of clothing or style of dress. Many surnames derived from the names of animals and birds. In the Middle Ages ideas were held about the characters of other living creatures, based on observation, and these associations were reflected and reinforced by large bodies of folk tales featuring animals behaving as humans.