Askham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancient history of the Askham name begins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the family resided in parishes called Askham, or Ascham, in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Westmorland (now part of Cumbria).

The name could have been derived from an Old English expression for a "dweller at the Ash-Tree field or enclosure." 1

Early Origins of the Askham family

The surname Askham was first found in Yorkshire at Little Askham or Askham-Richard. :"In the 9th of Edward II. the priory of Burlington held this manor; the patronage of the church was exercised by the nuns of Monkton till the Dissolution." 2

However, we must look to the aforementioned Westmorland to find the first listing of the family. For it is there that the "Placita de Quo Warranto" listed Avice de Askum, 20 Edward I (during the 20th year of Edward I's reign.) Later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379 listed Thomas de Askam. 3

Early History of the Askham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Askham research. Another 246 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1313, 1379, 1390, 1397, 1398, 1406, 1515, 1540, 1553, 1568, 1638, 1650 and 1752 are included under the topic Early Askham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Askham Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Askham include Askham, Askheam, Ascham, Askum, Askam and others.

Early Notables of the Askham family

Distinguished members of the family include

Roger Ascham, (1515-1568), was an English author born in 1515 at Kirby Wiske, near Northallerton. "His family appears to have been of considerable antiquity, and to have taken its name from the villag...

Askham migration to Australia +

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

Askham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Sarah Askham who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Emma Eugenia" on 25th October 1850, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Askham (post 1700) +

Ursula Askham Fanthorpe CBE, FRSL (1929-2009), English poet, born in Kent, England
Dingley Askham Brittin (1823-1902), English immigrant to New Zealand aboard the Minerva in 1853 who rose to become a distinguished politician, Member of Parliament for Christchurch Country (1855-1856)

Historic Events for the Askham family +

HMS Royal Oak

Reuben W. Askham, British Boy 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 5

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 7th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emma-eugenia
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html