Ashcreft History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Ashcreft

What does the name Ashcreft mean?

The ancestors of the bearers of the Ashcreft family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in Norfolk. Ashcroft means the dweller in the croft where the ash trees grow. 1

Early Origins of the Ashcreft family

The surname Ashcreft was first found in Norfolk where one of the first records of the name was Margaret de Asecroft who was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1275 in this county. 1 Richard Ashcroft was also listed in Norfolk in the Feet of Fines. 2

Early History of the Ashcreft family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ashcreft research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1592 and 1602 are included under the topic Early Ashcreft History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ashcreft Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Ashcreft include Ashecroft, Ashecroft, Ashcroft, Ashcrofte, Ascroft, Ascrofte, Ashcraft and many more.

Early Notables of the Ashcreft family

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

Migration of the Ashcreft family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled 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 ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Ashcreft or a variant listed above: Jo Ascrofte who settled in Virginia in 1635; Hugh Ashcroft landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1832; Henry Ascroft settled in Virginia in 1699.

The Ashcreft 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: Floruit fraxinus
Motto Translation: Flowering ash

Sources +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)