Show ContentsAsklaby History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Asklaby family

The surname Asklaby was first found in North Yorkshire at Aislaby, a hamlet and civil parish near the town of Pickering. The place name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 when it was listed as Asuluesbi. 1

The place name literally means "farmstead or village of a man called Asulfr," from the Old Scandinavian personal name + "by." 2

"There was anciently a chapel dedicated to St. Thomas the Martyr, which was founded by William de Aslakby (now Aislaby) and Agnes his wife, in 1313." 3

Aislaby is also a village and civil parish in the Scarborough district and finally Aislaby is a small village and civil parish on the north bank of the River Tees within the borough of Stockton-on-Tees in County Durham. Conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands and village of Aislaby, held by Richard Surdeval, a Norman noble, who was recorded in the Domesday Book.

Early History of the Asklaby family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Asklaby research. Another 167 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1379, 1487, 1510, 1564, 1600, 1670, 1674, 1699 and 1742 are included under the topic Early Asklaby History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Asklaby Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Aislaby, Aislakby, Aislackby, Aslakeby, Aislabie, Aslaby and many more.

Early Notables of the Asklaby family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Aislabie (1670-1742), English statesman and politician, was baptised at Holy Trinity Church, Goodramgate, York, 7 Dec. 1670. "He was the fourth son of George Aislabie, principal registrar of the archiepiscopal court of York, by his second wife, Mary. His father...
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Asklaby Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Asklaby family

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Asklaby or a variant listed above: John Aislabee, who settled in Massachusetts in 1692.



  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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