Show ContentsAshcume History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Ashcume surname lived in one of the places named Ashcombe in the counties of Berkshire, Devon, and Sussex.

Early Origins of the Ashcume family

The surname Ashcume was first found in Devon at Ashcombe, a village and civil parish in the Teignbridge district which dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was listed as Aissecome 1 and literally meant "valley where ash-trees grow." 2 The local church was built in a cruciform structure and was dedicated November 22nd, 1259. It contains many ancient stalls of carved oak. 3 In the 1800s when repairs were done, part of an old breviary (liturgical book) was found between the ceiling and the roof written in the reign of Richard II. The breviary is now on display at the British Museum. Ashcombe House, also known as Ashcombe Park, is a Georgian manor house in the parish of Berwick St John, near Salisbury, in Wiltshire. The first house located here was built in 1686 by a local squire. Ashcombe House at Swainswick, north-east of Bath in Somerset is a Gothic revival country house and was built in the early nineteenth century.

Early History of the Ashcume family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ashcume research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ashcume History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ashcume Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Ashcume are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Ashcume include: Ashcombe, Ashcomb, Ascombe, Ascomb, Aiscombe, Aiscomb, Lishcombe, Lishcomb, Ayscombe, Ayscomb, Ascoum and many more.

Early Notables of the Ashcume family

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

Migration of the Ashcume family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Ashcume or a variant listed above: John Ashcomb, who arrived in Virginia in 1646; Ann Ashcomb, who arrived in Virginia in 1650; Nathaniel Ashcomb, who settled in Maryland sometime between 1650 and 1651.



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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