The ancestry of the name Ashecroft dates from the ancient
Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in
Norfolk.
Ashcroft means
the dweller in the croft where the ash trees grow. [1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)Early Origins of the Ashecroft family
The surname Ashecroft 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]CITATION[CLOSE]
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X) Richard Ashcroft was also listed in
Norfolk in the Feet of Fines.
[2]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Early History of the Ashecroft family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ashecroft research.
Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1592 and 1602 are included under the topic Early Ashecroft History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Ashecroft Spelling Variations
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 Ashecroft have been found, including Ashecroft, Ashecroft, Ashcroft, Ashcrofte, Ascroft, Ascrofte, Ashcraft and many more.
Early Notables of the Ashecroft family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Ashecroft Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Ashecroft family to the New World and Oceana
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 Ashecroft, 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 Ashecroft 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