Recorded in a number of spellings as shown below, this is a surname which is ultimately of Germanic origins. It is topographical from residence in or by an ancient dwelling, the derivation being from the pre 7th century Old German words "alt", meaning "old", plus "heim", a home or dwelling. A coat of arms granted to the Altheim family of Bavaria circa 1680, and recorded in Riestap's "Armorial General", has the blazon of a silver and red shield divided vertically, whilst the arms of the Altheim's of Souabe depicts a blue demi lion rampant on a silver shield. It is said that a family originally called Altheim and from the Upper Palatine region of Germany, now Bavaria, settled in County Limerick, Ireland, in the 18th Century. Here, according to Irish records, the name was subsequently recorded as Altimas, Altime, Altimes and Alltimes. This may well be so, although most evidence is anecdotal. Surving recordings from that early period include Phebe, the daughter of Daniel Alltimes, who was christened at Rathkeale, on August 8th 1790, and Anne Altimes married Patrick Sherwood on March 2nd 1813, at Kilfinnane. In London, England, John Cormack Altime, was christened at All Souls church , in the district of Marylebone, on December 25th 1825. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Leonard Alltimes, (marriage to Mary Buckle), which was dated 1772, Ballyhay, County Cork, during the reign of King George 111 of England, "Farmer George", 1760 - 1820. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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