The ancient history of the Askham name begins with the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the family resided in parishes called Askham, or Ascham, in Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, and Westmorland (now part of Cumbria).
The name could have been derived from an Old English expression for a "dweller at the Ash-Tree field or enclosure." [1]
The surname Askham was first found in Yorkshire at Little Askham or Askham-Richard. :"In the 9th of Edward II. the priory of Burlington held this manor; the patronage of the church was exercised by the nuns of Monkton till the Dissolution." [2]
However, we must look to the aforementioned Westmorland to find the first listing of the family. For it is there that the "Placita de Quo Warranto" listed Avice de Askum, 20 Edward I (during the 20th year of Edward I's reign.) Later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379 listed Thomas de Askam. [3]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Askham research. Another 246 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1313, 1379, 1515, 1553, 1650, 1752, 1553, 1540, 1553, 1650, 1638, 1515, 1568, 1515, 1313, 1397, 1406, 1398, 1390 and 1553 are included under the topic Early Askham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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 Askham include Askham, Askheam, Ascham, Askum, Askam and others.
Distinguished members of the family include Anthony Ascham ( fl. 1553), an English astrologer who studied at Cambridge, became M.B. in 1540, and in 1553 was presented by Edward VI to the vicarage of Burneston, Yorkshire.
Antony Ascham (d. 1650), was a parliamentarian and Ambassador at Madrid, "born of a genteel family, educated in Eton school, and thence elected into King's College, Cambridge, 1638." [4]
Roger Ascham, (1515-1568), was an English author born in 1515 at Kirby Wiske, near Northallerton. "His family appears to have been of considerable antiquity, and to have taken its name from the villages known East and West Askham, near...
Another 113 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Askham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.