| ![Show Contents]() Aisher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Aisher reached English shores for the first time with the ancestors of the Aisher family as they migrated following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Aisher is based on the name of an ancestor as in 'the son of Asset.' "Asser was an ancient personal name, as Asserius Menevensis, the preceptor of King Alfred. Two tenants called Azor are found in Domesday [Book]. " 1 Early Origins of the Aisher familyThe surname Aisher was first found in Dorset where the first record of the name was Asser (without surname) (d. 909), Bishop of Sherborne and author of the 'Life of Ælfred the Great.' He was a monk of St. David's (Menevia), and related to Bishop Novis of that see. "Like Grimbald and John, 'the Old Saxon,' Asser, who had a high reputation for learning, was invited by Alfred about 885 to enter his household. He appears to have been encouraged to accept the invitation by his fellow-monks, who had recently suffered from the hostility of Hemeid, king of South Wales, and hoped to secure, through Asser, Ælfred's protection. Asser's 'Life of Ælfred ' ('De Rebus gestis Æfredi Magni') consists of (1) a chronicle of English history between 849 and 887, largely drawn from an early version of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, and (2) a personal and original narrative of Ælfred's career down to 887. " 2 Another source confirms this record but in a slightly different manner: "Plympton Priory was one of the most ancient and notable religious houses in Devon. The canons who held two hides of the Plintona manor under William, were the successors of men who had been seated there in all probability for a longer period than any other religious in Devon outside Exeter. There is yet extant a copy of a Saxon document of reasonable authenticity, dated 904, which records a grant by Eadweard the Elder to Asser, Bishop of Sherborne, and the convent there, of twelve manors, by way of exchange for the monastery which in the Saxon tongue is called 'Plymentun.' " 3 According to "History and Ant. St. David's" there were two more possibly related men of the cloth in early times: Asser (without surname), canon of St. David's, 1202; and John ap-Asser, canon of St. David's, 1218. 4 From this last entry, the surnames Passer and Pasher are derived. Less than sixty years later, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed William Ascer in Lincolnshire and Robert Asser in Derbyshire. 4 The "Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III." listed Jordan Asser, in Northamptonshire, 20 Edward I (in the 20th year of Edward I's reign.) 4 A William Asser, was rector of Aylmerton, Norfolk. 5 Early History of the Aisher familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Aisher research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1510, 1600, 1653, 1671 and 1756 are included under the topic Early Aisher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Aisher Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Aisher are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Aisher include Asher, Ascher, Asser, Hasher, Hasser, Hascher, Aschey, Aisher, Aza, Azor, Ascer, Passer and many more. Early Notables of the Aisher familyMore information is included under the topic Early Aisher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Aisher familyFaced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Aisher, or a variant listed above: Asher, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1903; A. Asher, aged 26, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1895; Adelaide Asher, aged 33, who arrived at Ellis Island from New York City, N.Y., in 1924.
| Contemporary Notables of the name Aisher (post 1700) | + |
- Robin Allingham Aisher OBE (1934-2023), British bronze medalist sailor in the 5.5 Metre class at the 1968 Summer Olympics
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
- 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
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