Allens, it would seem, have been around forever. In Irish, the name Ailin would translate as someone who was hard and inflexible; while in Scotland the old family name Aluinn would translate as someone who was handsome. The ancient Allen family line has been traced directly back to the ruling McDonalds of Clan Ranald, who were named after one of the sons of King Somerled, the ruler of all of Argyll and the Great Hebrides Islands.