Show ContentsEskew History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Eskew family

The surname Eskew was first found in the county of Cumberland, however some of the family were found at Aughton in the East Riding of Yorkshire in early times.

"The church [of Aughton], the chancel of which was rebuilt in 1839, has a low embattled tower, built by Christopher, son of the unfortunate Robert Aske who was beheaded at York in the reign of Henry VIII., 1537, as a principal in the insurrection called the "Pilgrimage of Grace," occasioned by the suppression of the monasteries. On the chancel floor is a fine brass slab, on which are graven the effigies of Richard Aske and his lady, who died in the fifteenth century. Near the east bank of the river Derwent the moats and trenches of an ancient castle are still visible; and in the vicinity of the church is a large mound of earth, the site of the castellated mansion of the Aske family." 1

Eske is a township, in the parish of St. John, Beverley, union of Beverley, N. division of the wapentake of Holderness, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. "This place, in Domesday Book Asche, derives its name from the British word signifying water. It was given at an early period to the collegiate church of St. John." 1

Early History of the Eskew family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eskew research. Another 141 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1438, 1450, 1521, 1540, 1546, 1550, 1558, 1590, 1596, 1616, 1618, 1619, 1624, 1641, 1650, 1654, 1659, 1668, 1671, 1685, 1689, 1699, 1774 and 1911 are included under the topic Early Eskew History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eskew Spelling Variations

The name Eskew, appeared in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelt Askey, Aske, Askew, Aiscough, Ayscoghe, Asker, Ayscough, Aiskey and many more.

Early Notables of the Eskew family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Anne Askew (1521-1546), English poet and Protestant who was condemned as a heretic, the only woman to have been both tortured in the Tower of London and burnt at the stake; William Ayscough (or Aiscough), (died 1540), Bishop of Salisbury (1438-1450); Edward Ayscough (died 1558), cup-bearer to Henry VIII; Edward Ayscough (of Nuthall) (c.1590- c.1641), Member of Parliament for Stamford in 1624; Edward Ayscough (1596-c. 1654), Member of Parliament for Lincoln and Lincolnshire; Edward Ayscough (c.1618-1668), English Member of Parliament for Great Grimsby in 1659; Edward...
Another 96 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Eskew Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eskew Ranking

In the United States, the name Eskew is the 7,282nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2


United States Eskew migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned as many of the settlers in Ireland, known as the Scotch/Irish, became disenchanted. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Amongst the early settlers who could be considered kinsmen of the Eskew family, or who bore a variation of the surname Eskew were

Eskew Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Ruth Eskew, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States, in 1910
  • Max Eskew, aged 22, who landed in America, in 1922

Contemporary Notables of the name Eskew (post 1700) +

  • Tucker Eskew, American Republican political consultant
  • Michael L. Eskew, American former chairman and Chief Executive Officer of UPS (2002-2007)
  • Jackson W. "Jack" Eskew (b. 1940), American three-time Academy Award nominated musical arranger from Los Angeles, California

USS Arizona
  • Mr. Weldon V. Eskew, American Machinist's Mate First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 3


The Eskew 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: Fac et spera
Motto Translation: Do and hope.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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