Show ContentsAsburey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Asburey

What does the name Asburey mean?

The roots of the Anglo-Saxon name Asburey come from when the family resided in Ashbourne, Derbyshire; in Ashburnham, Sussex; or in Ashburton, Devon. 1

Early Origins of the Asburey family

The surname Asburey was first found in Derbyshire, at Ashbourne, a market town in the Derbyshire Dales now famous for its historic annual Shrovetide football match. The first record was found in the Domesday Book where it was listed as Esseburne, having derived from the Old English aesc + burna, meaning "stream where the ash-trees grow." 2

The name dates back to pre-Domesday Book times, when it was known as Aescburnan in 1008. 3

"There can be little no doubt, however, that the Ashburnhams have been seated at Ashburnham from the reign of Henry II, and probably from a much earlier period, and are descended from Bertram, Constable of Dover in the reign or William the Conqueror. " 4

"The manor [of Ashburnham in Sussex], with the exception only of a few years, has been from a time anterior to the Conquest in the continued possession of the noble family of Ashburnham, whose mansion-house here is beautifully situated, and surrounded by a fine park. The church, situated behind Ashburnham House, is a neat cruciform edifice in the decorated English style, with a tower; the south transept contains a gallery for the family, and in the north are handsome monuments to William and John Ashburnham, and their wives." 5

Sifting through early rolls, we found Robert de Assheboume in Devon in 1311 and years later, John de Ascheburn in Yorkshire in 1349. 3

Early History of the Asburey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Asburey research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1066, 1603, 1604, 1628, 1638, 1639, 1659, 1660, 1671, 1679, 1682, 1685, 1689, 1697, 1720 and 1842 are included under the topic Early Asburey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Asburey Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Asburey has been recorded under many different variations, including Ashburnham, Asbury, Astbury, Ashburner, Ashbourn, Ashburn, Ashburnam, Ashburham, Ashbourne and many more.

Early Notables of the Asburey family

Distinguished members of the family include John Ashburnham (1603-1671), an English courtier, diplomat, politician and an attendant on the King, he managed to regain his ancestral estate of Ashburnham in 1639; and his younger brother, William Ashburnham (ca. 1604-1679), an English army officer; and Sir Denny Ashburnham, 1st Baronet (c 1628-1697), an English landowner and politician, Member of Parliament for Hastings (1660-1679) and (1685-1689.) Joseph Ashbury (1638-1720), was an English actor and theatrical manager. "Born in London in 1638, he was of good family, educated at Eton, and entered...
Another 87 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Asburey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Asburey family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Asburey or a variant listed above: Edward Ashburham, settled in Virginia in 1653; Francis Ashborn settled in Virginia in 1635; Joseph Ashburn arrived in Annapolis in 1724; William Ashburne settled in Virginia in 1773. In Newfoundland, two brothers were captured by pirates and landed in Newfoundland, and many more..



The Asburey 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: Will God and I shall


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
  5. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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