Show ContentsAshcoombe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The present generation of the Ashcoombe family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in one of the places named Ashcombe in the counties of Berkshire, Devon, and Sussex.

Early Origins of the Ashcoombe family

The surname Ashcoombe 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 Ashcoombe family

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

Ashcoombe Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Ashcoombe include Ashcombe, Ashcomb, Ascombe, Ascomb, Aiscombe, Aiscomb, Lishcombe, Lishcomb, Ayscombe, Ayscomb, Ascoum and many more.

Early Notables of the Ashcoombe family

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

Migration of the Ashcoombe family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Ashcoombe were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: 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.


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