Astel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Astel family

The surname Astel was first found in Northamptonshire at Astwell, a hamlet, partly in the parish of Syresham, but chiefly in the parish of Wapenham, union of Brackley; hundred of King's Sutton. 1 2

While this is the prevailing origin of the name, another credible source notes that the name could have a patronymic name "derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Asketel,' one of the many corruptions of this early and popular name. " 3

Indeed the earliest listings of the family were as both a forename and a surname. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Astill filius Wilfriche, Oxfordshire; Astell Propositus, Oxfordshire; William Astil, Oxfordshire; Peter Askyl, Cambridgeshire; Alan Askil, Cambridgeshire; Stephen Astel, Cambridgeshire; and Simon Astil, Buckinghamshire. 3

The History of Norfolk listed Hugh Astel, as rector of Aylmerton, Norfolk, 1371; and Nicholas Astell, as vicar of Stradset, Norfolk, 1450. 4

We would be remiss if we did not mention the Cornish branch of the family. St, Austell was their home, a parish, which is situated in the east division of the hundred of Powder.

"There are few parishes in Cornwall, on the origin of whose name more doubts have been entertained. From this place was denominated an old family of gentlemen, De Austell, of which family William de Austell was sheriff of Cornwall in the reign of Edward III. which was prior to the middle of the fourteenth century. His grandson John de Austell was also sheriff of the county in the twenty-fifth of Henry VI. ; and in the two following years he enjoyed the same honours for Somerset and Dorset." 5

Early History of the Astel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Astel research. Another 178 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1225, 1349, 1379, 1532, 1641, 1668, 1675, 1697, 1714, 1722, 1731, 1735, 1800, 1807, 1841 and 1847 are included under the topic Early Astel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Astel Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Astel family name include Astell, Astel, Astill, Astil, Asstel, Asstil, Asthul, Asthule, Astle, Atsell and many more.

Early Notables of the Astel family

Distinguished members of the family include

William Astell, (d. 1847) was elected to the court of directors of the East India Company in 1800 and served on it for an unprecedented period of 47 years. In 1807 he was returned to the House of Comm...

Astel migration to Canada +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Astel surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Astel Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Joseph Astel, who was living in Wellington County, Ontario in 1871

The Astel Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sub cruce glorior
Motto Translation: I glorify under the cross.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print