Asworthy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England

The ancestors of the name Asworthy date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Asworthy family lived 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.

Early Origins of the Asworthy family

The surname Asworthy 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." ^[2]

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. " ^[3]

Important Dates for the Asworthy family

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

Asworthy Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Asworthy are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Asworthy include: Ashworth, Asworth, Ashworthe and others.

Early Notables of the Asworthy family (pre 1700)

More information is included under the topic Early Asworthy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Asworthy family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Asworthy 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..

Citations

1. ^ Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
2. ^ Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
3. ^ Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print