A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ashhurst family of England.
Reg. 6795 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Gu. a cross betw. four fleurs-de-lis ar”
LancasterAshhurst · Lancaster, c. 1620
Where the Ashhurst Arms Were Recorded
Lancaster
Map of England showing where the Ashhurst arms are recorded
The Ashhurst arms were recorded in Lancaster, c. 1620.
Lancashire was divided among a great many small landed families, more than most northern counties. Estates were passed down whole rather than split up, so the same names hold the same ground for centuries in the records.
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 Ashhurst 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 Lancaster.
Origin & History of the Ashhurst Family in England
The surname Ashhurst is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the Old English words "æsc," meaning an ash tree, and "hyrst," which refers to a wooded hill or a copse. This suggests that the earliest members of the family likely lived near a prominent hill covered in ash trees. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that the family had established a firm presence in the county of Lancashire. During this period, families in the region were often deeply connected to the local landscape, and their name served as a permanent marker of their geographical origins. As the family grew, they became part of the social fabric of Lancaster, contributing to the local community as the region transitioned through the early seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aesc and Hyrst
Old English for ash tree and a wooded hill or grove.
This name
AshhurstRefers to a person who lived near a wooded hill populated by ash trees.
also spelled
Ashirst
Ashhirst
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Place-Names of Lancashire, 1922
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Lancashire Archives, Quarter Sessions Records of the County Palatine of Lancaster, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
