Asburton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Asburton family

The surname Asburton was first found in Devon at Ashburton, a small town on the south-southeastern edge of Dartmoor which dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Essebretone. 1

"Ii has been commonly assumed that Ashburton is the ' Aisbertone ' recorded in ' Domesday ' as being held by Matilda in succession to Brictric, and under her by Judhel of Totnes ; and that when he was banished it became the property of the Bishops of Exeter. ' Aisbertone,' however, possessed not only fisheries, but a saltwork, and was therefore adjacent to the sea ; and the true Ashburton of ' Domesday ' is the ' Essebretone ' which the Bishops of Exeter held before the Conquest, and to which ' Domesday ' gives a population of sixty." 2

Originally a borough, markettown, and parish, in the union of Newton-Abbott, hundred of Teignbridge. "This town, anciently called Aisbertone, in the time of Edward the Confessor belonged to Brietric, and at the Conquest to Judael de Totnais." 3

By 1328, it was made a stannary town by charter of Edward III and by that time had already be well known for its mines of tin and copper. By the time of Charles I, it was property of the crown and he bestowed the manor upon his son Charles, when he created him Prince of Wales. Literally the place name means "farmstead or village by the stream where ash-trees grow" from the Old English words "aesc" + "burna" + "tun." 4

Hence, conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Ashburton, held by a steward of the Bishop of Exeter who was recorded in the Domesday Book.

Early History of the Asburton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Asburton research. Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Asburton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Asburton Spelling Variations

Norman surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are largely due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England, as well as the official court languages of Latin and French, also had pronounced influences on the spelling of surnames. Since medieval 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. The name has been spelled Ashburton, Ashberton, Asburton, Asburton and many more.

Early Notables of the Asburton family

More information is included under the topic Early Asburton Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Asburton family

Many English families emigrated to North American colonies in order to escape the political chaos in Britain at this time. Unfortunately, many English families made the trip to the New World under extremely harsh conditions. Overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the stormy Atlantic. Despite these hardships, many of the families prospered and went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the United States and Canada. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the name Asburton or a variant listed above: Frances Ashburton, aged 35, who arrived at Ellis Island from Alresford Hants., England, in 1919; Frances Ashburton, aged 35, who arrived at Ellis Island from England Ants, in 1925.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)