Ashwith History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The lineage of the name Ashwith begins with the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It is a result of when they lived in the chapelry named Ashworth anciently spelt Asseheworth in Lancashire. Despite the small size of this town (only 233 in the 1861 census) many of the surname have flourished since that time. 1

The first part of the name, Ash, was originally given to a person who resided in an area where ash trees flourished. Now there are numerous parishes and townships called Ashworth in many counties and there are also various minor localities of this same name from which smaller lines of the name may have emerged. 2

Early Origins of the Ashwith family

The surname Ashwith was first found in Lancashire at Ashworth, a parochial chapelry, in the parish of Middleton, union of Bury, hundred of Salford. "A family named Ashworth was seated here as early as the 13th century, and appears to have been succeeded by the Holts." 3

An early variant of the family was Ashwardby. Of this name, we could find only one reference, that of John Ashwardby (fl. 1392), "a follower of Wycliffe, is described by Tanner, no doubt by an inference from his surname, as a Lincolnshire man. " 4

Early rolls entries are scarce, but we did find Richard de Ascheworth in the Assize Rolls for 1285. 5 Frome here we move to the 17th century where the Wills at Chester listed John Ashworth, of Castleton, Lancashire, 1617; and Oliver Ashworth, of Wolfenden, Lancashire, 1611. 1

Early History of the Ashwith family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ashwith research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1722, 1775, 1785 and 1811 are included under the topic Early Ashwith History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ashwith Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Ashwith has undergone many spelling variations, including Ashworth, Asworth, Ashworthe and others.

Early Notables of the Ashwith family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ashwith Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ashwith migration to Australia +

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

Ashwith Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Elizabeth Ashwith, aged 20, a dress maker, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "Escort"

The Ashwith Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Appetitus rationi pareat
Motto Translation: Let your desires obey your reason.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)