Show ContentsArscott History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Atlantic Ocean to the north and west and the English Channel to the south borders Cornwall, the homeland to the Arscott family name. Even though the usage of surnames was common during the Middle Ages, all English people were known only by a single name in early times. The manner in which hereditary surnames arose is interesting. Local surnames are derived from where the original bearer lived, was born, or held land. The Arscott family originally lived in Arscott, in Devon and perhaps Arscott in Shropshire (Salop.)

Alternatively, the Ascott variant, derived from the Old English words "east" + "cot," meaning "eastern cottages," [1] can be found in Berkshire, Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. [2] The Berkshire parish is the oldest, dating back to 1177 when it was known as Estcota. Ascott-under-Wychwood in Oxfordshire literally means "near the forest of Wynchwood." [1]

Early Origins of the Arscott family

The surname Arscott was first found in Devon, where "Tetcott was the last seat of the family of Arscott, who died out in the male line in 1788." [3]

Other early records include: William de Ardescote who was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1255 in Shropshire. William de Hassecote was found in Cornwall in 1201. [4]

As far as the Ascott variant, the first record was Richard de Askote in 1375. [4]

Early History of the Arscott family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Arscott research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1554, 1588, 1603, 1613, 1618, 1656, 1675, 1683, 1718, 1722, 1747, 1762 and 1788 are included under the topic Early Arscott History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arscott Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Arscot, Ascot, Arscott, Ascott, Asscot, Asscott and others.

Early Notables of the Arscott family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • Arthur Arscott (1683-1762) of Tetcott, Devon, a British landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1722 to 1747
  • John Arscott (1613-1675), of Tetcott, Devon, was Sheriff of Devon in 1675. He was the eldest son and heir of Edmund Arscott (1588-1656), of Tetcott. Arthur Arscott (1554-1618), the sheriff's grandfath...


Australia Arscott migration to Australia +

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

Arscott Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Arscott, English convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 27 September 1834, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [5]

New Zealand Arscott 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:

Arscott Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Edward Arscott, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Glendevon" in 1864
  • Edward Arscott, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Talbot" in 1864

Contemporary Notables of the name Arscott (post 1700) +

  • Jonathan "Jono" Paul Arscott (b. 1970), English former cricketer who played for Cambridge University
  • Nicky Arscott (b. 1983), English poet and artist who lives and works near Machynlleth, Powys, Wales
  • Tom Arscott (b. 1987), English rugby union player who played most recently with Newcastle Falcons.
  • Robert Arscott (b. 1952), English professional footballer
  • David Arscott, British author, local historian and publisher from Sussex who has published more than 40 books about Sussex
  • Caroline Arscott, British Emeritus Professor of the History of Art at the Courtauld Institute
  • Luke Arscott (b. 1984), British rugby union player from Plymouth, Devon, who played for Bristol Rugby in the RFU Championship
  • Felix Medland Arscott (1922-1996), British mathematician, member of the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics from 1976.


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie


Houseofnames.com on Facebook