A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ashmen family of England.
Reg. 0015 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
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)
“Or, on a bend gu. betw. two talbots' heads erased sa. three fleurs-de-lis ar”
WiltsLymmington · Wilts, c. 1620
Where the Ashmen Arms Were Recorded
Wilts
Map of England showing where the Ashmen arms are recorded
The Ashmen arms were recorded in Wilts, c. 1620.
Wiltshire was sheep country, and wool made money steadily for hundreds of years. Families who made it bought manors on the downs, and holding a manor was the usual reason to take 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 Ashmen 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 Wilts.
Origin & History of the Ashmen Family in England
The surname Ashmen is deeply rooted in the rural landscape of Wiltshire, England, where records confirm the family was established by the early seventeenth century. The name likely originated as a descriptive occupational or locational identifier, suggesting that early ancestors may have lived near prominent ash trees or worked in trades related to ash wood, such as charcoal burning or tool making. During the 1600s, Wiltshire was a region defined by its sheep farming and textile production, and families like the Ashmens were often integrated into the local agrarian economy. As members of the yeoman or laboring classes, they lived through a period of significant social change, including the English Civil War and the transition toward modern agricultural practices. By maintaining a presence in the county for generations, the family became part of the local fabric, contributing to the development of the small villages and parish communities that characterized the English countryside during the Stuart era.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aesc
Old English term for the ash tree.
This name
AshmenOccupational surname referring to a person who worked with ash wood or lived near an ash tree.
also spelled
Ashmon
Ashmen
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Dunning, R. W., A History of Wiltshire, 1983
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre, Quarter Sessions Great Rolls, 1603–1625
Wiltshire Family History Society, Wiltshire Parish Registers, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
greyhoundCourage, vigilance and loyalty
fleur de lisPurity, light, and the sixth son
