where does the last name allen derive from
Allen (surname) Allen is a Celtic surname, originating in Scotland, and common in Ireland, Wales and England. It is a variation of the surname MacAllen and may be derived from two separate sources: Ailin, in Scottish and Irish Gaelic, means both "little rock" and "harmony", or it may also be derived from the Celtic Aluinn, which means "handsome". Variant spellings include Alan, Allan, etc. The noble family of this surname, from which a branch went to Portugal, is descended of one Alanus de Buckenhall.
Garrett (name) Garrett is a surname and given name of Germanic and of Old French origins. It is one of the many baptismal surnames to have been derived from the popular names of Gerard and Gerald in 12th Century England. Both of these names were taken to Britain by the conquering Normans and are the Old French versions of ancient Germanic personal names. The name Gerard (or Germanic: Gerhard) is composed of the Germanic elements gēr or gār (meaning "spear") and hard ("brave", "hard" or "strong"), while Gerald is composed of again gēr or gār ("spear") and wald ("to rule") In the US, it means "defender"[1][2][3][4] Although Garrett remains predominantly only a surname in England and Ireland, elsewhere in the English-speaking world it has become a popular masculine first name (e.g. in Ireland, and the United States).