Show ContentsAskey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Askey family

The surname Askey was first found in the county of Cumberland, however some of the family were found at Aughton in the East Riding of Yorkshire in early times.

"The church [of Aughton], the chancel of which was rebuilt in 1839, has a low embattled tower, built by Christopher, son of the unfortunate Robert Aske who was beheaded at York in the reign of Henry VIII., 1537, as a principal in the insurrection called the "Pilgrimage of Grace," occasioned by the suppression of the monasteries. On the chancel floor is a fine brass slab, on which are graven the effigies of Richard Aske and his lady, who died in the fifteenth century. Near the east bank of the river Derwent the moats and trenches of an ancient castle are still visible; and in the vicinity of the church is a large mound of earth, the site of the castellated mansion of the Aske family." 1

Eske is a township, in the parish of St. John, Beverley, union of Beverley, N. division of the wapentake of Holderness, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. "This place, in Domesday Book Asche, derives its name from the British word signifying water. It was given at an early period to the collegiate church of St. John." 1

Early History of the Askey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Askey research. Another 141 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1438, 1450, 1521, 1540, 1546, 1550, 1558, 1590, 1596, 1616, 1618, 1619, 1624, 1641, 1650, 1654, 1659, 1668, 1671, 1685, 1689, 1699, 1774 and 1911 are included under the topic Early Askey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Askey Spelling Variations

During the era when a person's name, tribe and posterity was one of his most important possessions, many different spellings were found in the archives examined. Askey occurred in many references, and spelling variations of the name found included Askey, Aske, Askew, Aiscough, Ayscoghe, Asker, Ayscough, Aiskey and many more.

Early Notables of the Askey family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was Anne Askew (1521-1546), English poet and Protestant who was condemned as a heretic, the only woman to have been both tortured in the Tower of London and burnt at the stake; William Ayscough (or Aiscough), (died 1540), Bishop of Salisbury (1438-1450); Edward Ayscough (died 1558), cup-bearer to Henry VIII; Edward Ayscough (of Nuthall) (c.1590- c.1641), Member of Parliament for Stamford in 1624; Edward Ayscough (1596-c. 1654), Member of Parliament for Lincoln and Lincolnshire; Edward Ayscough (c.1618-1668), English Member of Parliament for Great Grimsby in 1659; Edward...
Another 96 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Askey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Askey migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Askey Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Askey, (b. 1812), aged 18, English labourer who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for 14 years for stealing, transported aboard the "David Lyon" on 29th April 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 2
  • Mr. James Askey, English convict who was convicted in Shropshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 27th August 1841, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3

New Zealand Askey migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Askey Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Sarah Askey, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wild Duck" in 1860
  • Mr. George Askey, (b. 1847), aged 28, English cooper from Warwick travelling from London aboard the ship "Waimate" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1875 4
  • Mrs. Mary Ann Askey, (b. 1847), aged 28, English settler from Warwick travelling from London aboard the ship "Waimate" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1875 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Askey (post 1700) +

  • Tom Askey (b. 1974), American professional NHL ice hockey goaltender
  • Richard Allen Askey (b. 1933), American mathematician
  • Robert J. Askey, American politician, Mayor of Longmont, Colorado, 1979-81 5
  • Anthea Shirley Askey (1933-1999), English television actress who was a popular in the 1950s
  • Arthur Bowden Askey (1900-1982), English comedian

HMS Repulse
  • Mr. C Askey, English Petty Officer Telegraphist from Ingrow, Yorkshire, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 6


The Askey 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: Fac et spera
Motto Translation: Do and hope.


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-lyon
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  6. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html


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