Show ContentsAscum History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestry of the name Ascum dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in one of the places named Ashcombe in the counties of Berkshire, Devon, and Sussex.

Early Origins of the Ascum family

The surname Ascum was first found in Devon at Ashcombe, a village and civil parish in the Teignbridge district which dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was listed as Aissecome 1 and literally meant "valley where ash-trees grow." 2 The local church was built in a cruciform structure and was dedicated November 22nd, 1259. It contains many ancient stalls of carved oak. 3 In the 1800s when repairs were done, part of an old breviary (liturgical book) was found between the ceiling and the roof written in the reign of Richard II. The breviary is now on display at the British Museum. Ashcombe House, also known as Ashcombe Park, is a Georgian manor house in the parish of Berwick St John, near Salisbury, in Wiltshire. The first house located here was built in 1686 by a local squire. Ashcombe House at Swainswick, north-east of Bath in Somerset is a Gothic revival country house and was built in the early nineteenth century.

Early History of the Ascum family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ascum research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ascum History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ascum 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 Ascum have been found, including Ashcombe, Ashcomb, Ascombe, Ascomb, Aiscombe, Aiscomb, Lishcombe, Lishcomb, Ayscombe, Ayscomb, Ascoum and many more.

Early Notables of the Ascum family

More information is included under the topic Early Ascum Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ascum family

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 Ascum, or a variant listed above: John Ashcomb, who arrived in Virginia in 1646; Ann Ashcomb, who arrived in Virginia in 1650; Nathaniel Ashcomb, who settled in Maryland sometime between 1650 and 1651.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


Houseofnames.com on Facebook