Asworthey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Anglo-Saxon name Asworthey comes from when the family resided in the chapelry named Ashworth anciently spelt Asseheworth in Lancashire. Despite the small size of this town (only 233 in the 1861 census) many of the surname have flourished since that time. 1

The first part of the name, Ash, was originally given to a person who resided in an area where ash trees flourished. Now there are numerous parishes and townships called Ashworth in many counties and there are also various minor localities of this same name from which smaller lines of the name may have emerged. 2

Early Origins of the Asworthey family

The surname Asworthey was first found in Lancashire at Ashworth, a parochial chapelry, in the parish of Middleton, union of Bury, hundred of Salford. "A family named Ashworth was seated here as early as the 13th century, and appears to have been succeeded by the Holts." 3

An early variant of the family was Ashwardby. Of this name, we could find only one reference, that of John Ashwardby (fl. 1392), "a follower of Wycliffe, is described by Tanner, no doubt by an inference from his surname, as a Lincolnshire man. " 4

Early rolls entries are scarce, but we did find Richard de Ascheworth in the Assize Rolls for 1285. 5 Frome here we move to the 17th century where the Wills at Chester listed John Ashworth, of Castleton, Lancashire, 1617; and Oliver Ashworth, of Wolfenden, Lancashire, 1611. 1

Early History of the Asworthey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Asworthey research. Another 82 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1722, 1775, 1785 and 1811 are included under the topic Early Asworthey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Asworthey Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Asworthey has been recorded under many different variations, including Ashworth, Asworth, Ashworthe and others.

Early Notables of the Asworthey family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Asworthey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Asworthey family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Asworthey or a variant listed above: William Ashworth who settled in Virginia in 1653; Nicholas, Sydney and William Ashworth arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1832 and 1841; along with many more of the name..

The Asworthey 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: Appetitus rationi pareat
Motto Translation: Let your desires obey your reason.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)