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![Show Contents]() Ascher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Ascher is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. It comes from 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 Ascher familyThe surname Ascher 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 Ascher familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ascher research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1510, 1600, 1653, 1671 and 1756 are included under the topic Early Ascher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Ascher Spelling VariationsBefore the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Ascher family name include Asher, Ascher, Asser, Hasher, Hasser, Hascher, Aschey, Aisher, Aza, Azor, Ascer, Passer and many more. Early Notables of the Ascher familyMore information is included under the topic Early Ascher Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Ascher migration to the United States | + |
To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Ascher family to immigrate North America:
Ascher Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Carl Ascher, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 6
- Hermann Ascher, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 6
- Hermine Ascher, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 6
- Wilhelm Ascher, who arrived in Texas in 1850 6
- William Ascher, who landed in Texas in 1850 6
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Ascher (post 1700) | + |
- Bernard Ascher (b. 1933), prominent American governmental economist
- Leo Ascher (1880-1942), Jewish composer
- Kenneth Ascher (b. 1944), American musician, songwriter and musical arranger
- William Ascher (b. 1947), American professor of public policy
- Richard A. Ascher, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2008 7
- John B. Ascher, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate in primary for Mayor of Baltimore, Maryland, 1991 7
- John A. Ascher, American Democratic Party politician, Physician; Member of Nevada State Legislature; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Illinois 13th District, 1926, 1930; Mayor of Freeport, Illinois 7
- Philippe Ascher (1936-2022), French neuroscientist and Professor Emeritus at the Université Paris Diderot
- Joseph Ascher, Dutch composer and court pianist to Eugénie de Montijo
- Ascher H. Shapiro (1916-2004), American MIT professor and expert in fluid dynamics
| Historic Events for the Ascher family | + |
Bismarck - Paul Ascher (1899-1941), German Fregattenkapitän who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 8
- 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
- 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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 5) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details
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Ascher migration to the United States 
England
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