The surname of ALTY was a baptismal name 'the son of Auty' seemingly an early personal name. A well known surname in County York. It was brought into England in the wake of the Norman Invasion of 1066. When the coast of England was invaded by William The Conqueror in the year 1066, the Normans brought with them a store of French personal names, which soon, more or less, entirely replaced the traditional more varied Old English personal names, at least among the upper and middle classes. A century of so later, given names of the principal saints of the Christian church began to be used. It is from these two types of given name that the majority of the English patronymic surnames are derived and used to this day. Early records of the name mention Alti (without surname) who was listed as a tenant in the Domesday Book of 1086. Outi de Lincoln was documented in County Norfolk in the year 1166. Willelmus filius Auti, 1200 Yorkshire. Simon Auty et Johanna uxor ejus, listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379. Edward Allte was documented in County Lancashire in the year 1400. George Autie of Lydiate, Chester, was listed in the Wills at Chester in 1596. John Baldwin and Elizabeth Auty were married at St. George's, Hanover Square, London in 1784. The name has numerous variants which include Alty, Autie, and Altie. At first the coat of arms was a practical matter which served a function on the battlefield and in tournaments. With his helmet covering his face, and armour encasing the knight from head to foot, the only means of identification for his followers, was the insignia painted on his shield and embroidered on his surcoat, the flowing and draped garment worn over the armour. In many parts of central and western Europe, hereditary surnames began to become fixed at around the 12th century, and have developed and changed slowly over the years. As society became more complex, and such matters as the management of tenure, and in particular the collection of taxes were delegated to special functionaries, it became imperative to distinguish a more complex system of nomenclature to differentiate one individual from another.