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Show ContentsAshton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The name Ashton has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived in the village of Ashton, Lancashire. The first part of the name, Ash, was originally given to a person who resided in an area where ash trees prospered. There are eighteen parishes and townships called Ashton in numerous counties and there are also various minor localities of this same name.

Early Origins of the Ashton family

The surname Ashton was first found in Lancashire, where they held a family seat originally at Assheton, originally known as Assheton-under-Lyne. [1]

The manor of Middleton has an extensive history dating back to the de Lacy family. It passed through Thomas Plantagenet and then "it would appear that the manor subsequently passed to the Kydales and the Bartons; and by the marriage of Sir Ralph Assheton, commonly called the "Black Knight of Ashton," with the last heiress of the Bartons, it was conveyed to the Assheton family.

Sir Ralph was successively knight-marshal, and vice-constable of England, the latter office having been conferred upon him for his gallant services under Richard, Duke of Gloucester, afterwards Richard III.; and his devoted attachment to the house of York was rewarded by that sovereign with the grant of divers manors confiscated from the adherents of the house of Lancaster. His grandson, Sir Richard Assheton, was one of the heroes of Flodden-Field, and led to the attack in that memorable battle a body of Middleton bowmen, which formed part of the left wing under the command of Sir Edward Stanley; for his valour on the occasion, he received the honour of knighthood from Henry VIII., and various important privileges were conferred upon his manor of Middleton." [2]

"The manor [of Downham, Lancashire] is carried up to a period before the Conquest, when it was possessed by Aufray, or Alfred, a Saxon. It was granted by the Lacys to Ralph de Rous, and afterwards to Peter de Cestria; and by Henry, Duke of Lancaster, to John de Dyneley, a member of the Cliviger family. After the dissolution of Whalley Abbey, in which the fee vested, it was sold to Richard Assheton; and Downham Hall, existing in 1308, but rebuilt in 1775, became the seat of the Asshetons." [2]

Sir John de Ashton (fl. 1370), was a military commander, the son of Thomas de Ashton, who had distinguished himself at the battle of Nevill's Cross. His son, Sir John de Ashton (d. 1428), was Seneschal of Bayeux. "He was one of forty-six esquires who were summoned to attend the grand coronation of Henry IV, in honour of which event they were solemnly admitted to the order of the Bath. He served in the parliament of 1413 as knight of the shire for Lancashire. " [3]

Sir Robert de Ashton (d. 1385), was a "civil, military, and naval officer under Edward III, was of the great northern family of Ashton or Assheton, of Ashton-under-Lyne, in the county of Lancaster." [3]

His son, Thomas de Ashton (fl. 1346), was a "warrior, the son and heir of Sir Robert de Ashton, and it is remarkable that, although the chief recorded event of his life shows him to have been a man of conspicuous military courage, he does not appear to have received the honour of knighthood." [3]

Early History of the Ashton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ashton research. Another 259 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1273, 1323, 1400, 1431, 1581, 1585, 1590, 1605, 1620, 1624, 1625, 1626, 1641, 1644, 1646, 1651, 1652, 1658, 1665, 1677, 1679, 1680, 1691, 1694, 1695, 1696, 1698, 1700, 1711, 1716 and 1818 are included under the topic Early Ashton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ashton Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Ashton have been found, including Ashton, Asshton, Asheton, Ashtown, Assheton, Ascheton and many more.

Early Notables of the Ashton family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • John Ashton (died 1691), was a Jacobite conspirator who at the gallows handed the sheriff a paper declaring himself a Protestant in King James II's service, after his execution, he was called by some...
  • Edward Ashton (died 1658), was a colonel in the army, who was also deeply implicated in the plot against the Lord Protectorin (1658); his role was to set fire to the city, throw open all the prisons...

Ashton World Ranking

In the United States, the name Ashton is the 2,432nd most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. [4] However, in Australia, the name Ashton is ranked the 580th most popular surname with an estimated 6,683 people with that name. [5] And in New Zealand, the name Ashton is the 430th popular surname with an estimated 1,552 people with that name. [6] The United Kingdom ranks Ashton as 345th with 18,043 people. [7]

United States Ashton migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Ashton, or a variant listed above:

Ashton Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Alice Ashton, aged 20, who landed in Virginia in 1635 [8]
  • Mary Ashton, who arrived in New England in 1635 [8]
  • Thom Ashton, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 [8]
  • Miss Alice Ashton, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Safety" arriving in Virginia in 1635 [9]
  • bane Ashton, who landed in Virginia in 1638 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Ashton Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Reuben Ashton, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1703 [8]
  • Thomas Ashton, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1703 [8]
  • Alex Ashton, who landed in Virginia in 1711 [8]
  • John Ashton, who arrived in Virginia in 1720
Ashton Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Ashton, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1816
  • G Ashton, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 [8]
  • H Ashton, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 [8]
  • Evan Ashton journeyed to San Francisco in 1852
  • Joseph Ashton, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1860 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Ashton migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ashton Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mary Ashton, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Ashton Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • G Ashton, who arrived in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

Australia Ashton migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ashton Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Ashton, British convict who was convicted in Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, the settlement was listed as abandoned and most of the convicts transported to Tasmania on the "Queen" in 1804 [10]
  • Mr. James Ashton, British Convict who was convicted in London, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl Spencer" in May 1813, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [11]
  • Mr. William Ashton, English convict who was convicted in Derby, Derbyshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, listed as died in 1820 in an accident [12]
  • Mr. Samuel Ashton, Welsh convict who was convicted in Monmouth, Monmouthshire, Wales for life, transported aboard the "Caledonia" in 19th June 1822, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [13]
  • Mr. Thomas Ashton, British Convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Commodore Hayes" in April 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [14]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Ashton migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ashton Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Miss Mary Ashton, (b. 1785), aged 56, British servant travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Oriental" arriving in New Plymouth, Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand via Wellington on 7th November 1841 [15]
  • C T Ashton, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1844
  • Mrs. Ashton, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Eastfield" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 12th December 1857 [16]
  • Miss Sarah Ashton, (b. 1858), aged Infant, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indiana" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1858 [16]
  • Mrs. Emma Ashton, (b. 1818), aged 40, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Indiana" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 28th November 1858 [16]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ashton (post 1700) +

  • Peter Shaw "P.S." Ashton (b. 1934), British botanist, Charles Bullard Professor of Forestry at Harvard University, Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences (1983)
  • Alan C. Ashton (b. 1942), American co-founder of WordPerfect Corporation
  • George A. Ashton, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives 41st District, 1974 [17]
  • Dale Ashton, American politician, Candidate for Mayor of Lehi, Utah, 1989 [17]
  • Colleen M. Ashton, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 2008 [17]
  • Chester H. Ashton, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1928 [17]
  • Charles W. Ashton, American Republican politician, Burgess of McKees Rocks, Pennsylvania; Elected 1941 [17]
  • Cathaleen L. Ashton, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 2008 [17]
  • C. R. Ashton, American politician, Mayor of Albany, Oregon, 1937 [17]
  • Augustus Trask Ashton, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 2nd District, 1940 [17]
  • ... (Another 28 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mr. Graham Mitford Ashton (1916-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Orakei, Auckland, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash [18]
Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. W. H.  Ashton, English stationed aboard the S.S Picton from Southampton, England, United Kingdom who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [19]
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. John Ashton, British Stoker 2nd Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking [20]
  • Mr. Edwin Charles Ashton, British Boy 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking [20]
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Walter Carter Ashton, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking [21]
  • Mr. John Jackson Ashton (b. 1899), English Able Bodied Seaman from Devonport, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking [21]

The Ashton 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: Quid non resolutio
Motto Translation: Someone not weakening.
  1. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  6. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  7. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-spencer
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
  14. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th March 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/commodore-hayes
  15. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  18. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  19. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  20. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  21. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
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