Contents [hide]

Asher History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Asher History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The ancestors of the Asher family arrived in England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The name Asher came 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 Asher family

The surname Asher 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 Asher family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Asher research. Another 156 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1510, 1600, 1653, 1671 and 1756 are included under the topic Early Asher History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Asher Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Asher, Ascher, Asser, Hasher, Hasser, Hascher, Aschey, Aisher, Aza, Azor, Ascer, Passer and many more.

Early Notables of the Asher family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

the Asher family of Staffordhire

Asher Ranking

In the United States, the name Asher is the 2,742^nd most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 6

Asher migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Asher or a variant listed above:

Asher Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Asher, who landed in New York in 1739 7
John Asher, aged 28, who arrived in Virginia in 1773 7

Asher Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Edward Asher, who arrived in Tippecanoe County, Ind in 1845 7
Aron Asher, who landed in Mississippi in 1850 7
A Asher, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 7
Charles Asher, who arrived in Mississippi in 1852 7
Conrad Asher, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1855 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Asher Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Asher, who immigrated to America, in 1903
Albert Asher, aged 61, who landed in America from London, in 1903
Albert Asher, aged 64, who settled in America from London, England, in 1906
Adelaide Asher, aged 33, who arrived at New York City, N.Y., in 1924

Asher migration to Australia +

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

Asher Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

J. Asher, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Bardaster" in 1839 8
M. Asher, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Bardaster" in 1839 8
John Asher, aged 32, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hydaspes" in 1851 9
Mary Asher, aged 26, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Hydaspes" in 1851 9
John Asher, aged 32, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Hydaspes" 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Asher 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:

Asher Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

A Asher, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1843
M Asher, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1843
Miss Asher, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Northfleet" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand, Via Wellington and Lyttleton in February 1854 10
Mr. Benjamin Asher, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Martaban" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1856 10
B. Asher, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Martaban" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1856 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Asher (post 1700) +

Michael Max Asher (1943-2012), American conceptual artist
William Milton Asher (1921-2012), American four-time Emmy Award nominated television and film producer, film director, and screenwriter
Tony Asher, American lyricist
Lee Asher (b. 1976), American magician
John Mallory Asher (b. 1971), American actor and director
Irving Asher (1903-1985), American motion picture producer
Hugh H. Asher, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kentucky, 1912; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Kentucky at-large, 1932 11
Harry F. Asher, American politician, Mayor of Mineola, New York, 1927-31; defeated, 1931 11
Greig Asher, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Colorado, 1980 11
C. E. Asher, American politician, Mayor of Macomb, Illinois, 1925 11
... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Asher family +

St. Francis Dam

Mr. Jessie Lloyd Asher, American resident in Santa Clarita killed when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928
Mary A. Asher, American resident in Santa Clarita who survived when the St. Francis Dam failed and flooded the area in 1928

Citations +

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
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BARDASTER 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Bardcaster.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HYDASPES 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Hydaspes.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 5) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html