A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ashenden family of England.
Reg. 5459 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
lionCourage, strength and royalty
Colours
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Ar. (another, or.) a lion ramp. gu. collared and chained or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Ashenden Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Ashenden arms are recorded
The Ashenden arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Ashenden arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Ashenden Family in England
The surname Ashenden is a locational name that originated in England, likely derived from Old English words meaning a valley where ash trees grew. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the historic city of York. Records confirm that members of the Ashenden family were living in this region by 1620, a time when York served as a vital hub for trade and administration in Northern England. Families during this period often settled in specific parishes, and the Ashendens likely contributed to the local economy as merchants or skilled tradespeople. Because the name is tied to the landscape, it suggests that the earliest ancestors were tied to a specific rural area before moving into the urban environment of York to pursue new opportunities.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aesc-denu
Old English words for ash tree and a valley.
This name
AshendenA topographical name referring to someone who lived in a valley where ash trees grew.
also spelled
Ashendon
Ashendin
Ashendun
Related arms
Ashendonvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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lionCourage, strength and royalty
lionCourage, strength and royalty
