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![Show Contents]() Aishfork History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England
The Aishfork history begins in Cornwall, a rugged coastal region in southwestern England. Quite distinct from Devon, the adjoining county, Cornwall had its own spoken language until the late 18th century. The Aishfork history began here. The manner in which hereditary surnames arose is interesting. Local surnames were derived from where the original bearer lived, was born, or held land. Unlike most Celtic peoples, who favored patronymic names, the Cornish predominantly used local surnames. The Aishfork family originally lived at Ayshford, in Cornwall. The Aishfork surname was also derived from the Old English words aesc and ford which meant a ford where ash trees grew. 1 Early Origins of the Aishfork familyThe surname Aishfork was first found in Ayshford, in the county of Cornwall, and in the County of Devon, from earliest times, and in later years a branch of the family migrated eastward to Kent. There are at least two references to the name in the Domesday Book: Aisseford and Aiseforda. Both were listed in Devon. However we must look to Oxfordshire for the first listing of the family with a very old spelling. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, list John de Esseford, Oxfordshire as holding lands there at that time. 2 Early History of the Aishfork familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Aishfork research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1594, 1626 and 1698 are included under the topic Early Aishfork History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Aishfork Spelling VariationsCornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Aishford, Ashford, Ayshford, Aysford, Asford, Asseford and many more. Early Notables of the Aishfork familyAnother 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Aishfork Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Aishfork familyIn the immigration and passenger lists were a number of people bearing the name Aishfork Ambrose Ashford landed in Barbados in 1685; followed by his brother John a year later, they both transshipped to Virginia. Elizabeth landed in Annapolis, Maryland in 1726.
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. 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)
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