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The name Ashehan has a history dating as far back as the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It was a name for a an ancient Saxon name which meant warrior of the spear. Ash, another ancient Saxon name meant spear.
"In Anglo-Saxon poetry aesc or ash is constantly used in the sense of spear, because the staff of a spear was usually made of that wood. So the Latin ferrum signifies both iron and sword. Ashman is therefore the equivalent of spearman." 1
"I take it that this name is the same as Asman, Osman, Osmon, Osmund (whence doubtless Houseman, Housman.)" 2
"As the surname is found at Gorleston and in Rochford Hundred (Essex), it may sometimes be an occupation-name." 3
The surname Ashehan was first found in the county of Wiltshire, where they held a family seat from very ancient times. Ash, in ancient Saxon meant "spear," therefore Ashman was a "spear warrior," " and perchance the same as Assemannus in Domesday Book; compare the place-names Ashmanhaugh, Ashmansworth, compounded with the name of the original tenant. " 4
By the time of the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, the family had scattered throughout early Britain: William Asseman, Suffolk; Peter Asseman, Cambridgeshire; Reginald Assheman, Suffolk; Walter Ascheman, Suffolk; and Henry Asscheman, Suffolk. 5
In Norfolk, early records there show: Nicholas Ashman, bailiff of Yarmouth, 1299; and Robert Ashman, bailiff of Yarmouth, 1316. 6
The singular Asseman, Asman was found in Huntingdonshire in the 13th century. John Essheman was found in the Assize Rolls for Kent in 1317. 3
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ashehan research. Another 39 words (3 lines of text) covering the year 1916 is included under the topic Early Ashehan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Ashehan have been found, including Aschman, Ashman, Asheman, Asman and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Ashehan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Ashehan, or a variant listed above: George Ashman who settled in Barbados in 1654; Henry Ashman settled in Philadelphia in 1754; and James Ashman arrived in Philadelphia in 1814. In Newfoundland the family is registered in St. John's, with George Ashman in 1816.