Show ContentsDashwode History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the name Dashwode date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Dashwode family lived in Dashwood, and held a family seat at Cockley Cley. The place-name literally means de Ashwood, which in the English form is Ashwood. 1 After the Norman Conquest, the usual preposition was de, which was used in both English and French place-names. In French names beginning with a vowel, the de was often merged with the name. The bearer of this surname lived by or in an area of forest that contained ash trees.

Early Origins of the Dashwode family

The surname Dashwode was first found in Norfolk at Cockley Cley, a small village and parish. However, some of the family were found at Kirtlington in Oxfordshire in early days. "The east end of the south aisle forms the sepulchral chapel of the Dashwood family, who have a mansion in the parish [of Kirtlington]." 2

Early History of the Dashwode family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dashwode research. Another 57 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1658, 1662, 1724 and 1734 are included under the topic Early Dashwode History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dashwode 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 Dashwode 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 Dashwode include: Dashwood, Dashwoode and others.

Early Notables of the Dashwode family

Another 49 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dashwode Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dashwode 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 Dashwode or a variant listed above: Mary, Robert, Sophia, Thomas and Thomas Junior Dashwood all arrived in New York in 1820.



  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.


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