A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ashurst family of England.
Reg. 0157 · 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
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
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 engr. or, in the chie. dexter quarter a fleur-de-lis gold”
CheshireCheshire, c. 1620
Where the Ashurst Arms Were Recorded
Cheshire
Map of England showing where the Ashurst arms are recorded
The Ashurst arms were recorded in Cheshire, c. 1620.
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 Ashurst 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 Cheshire.
Origin & History of the Ashurst Family in England
The surname Ashurst is a locational name that originated in England, specifically referring to individuals who lived near a wooded hill or a grove of ash trees. The name is derived from the Old English words "æsc," meaning ash tree, and "hyrst," meaning a wooded hill or thicket. By the early 17th century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Cheshire. Records from 1620 confirm that members of the Ashurst family were active in this region, likely involved in the agricultural and local governance systems common to the area at that time. As a family rooted in the rural landscape of Northwest England, their name reflects a deep historical connection to the specific geography and natural landmarks of their ancestral home.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aesc and Hyrst
Old English for ash tree and a wooded hill or grove.
This name
AshurstRefers to a person who lived near a wooded hill covered in ash trees.
also spelled
Ashirst
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1960
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of British Surnames, 1958
Cheshire Archives and Local Studies, Bishop's Transcripts for the Diocese of Chester, 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
