Map of England showing where the Ashworth arms are recorded
The Ashworth arms were recorded in England, c. 1585.
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.
Elizabeth I of England
Sovereign of the period
Elizabeth I of England
1558–1603
Reigning in England when the Ashworth 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 Ashworth Family in England
The surname Ashworth is a classic example of a locational name, which means it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a nickname. The name is derived from Old English words that describe a clearing or an enclosure near an ash tree. By the time members of the family were recorded in York in 1585, the name had already been established in northern England for several generations. During this period, families often moved from rural areas toward growing urban centers like York to seek new opportunities in trade or administration. As the family settled into these city environments, they became part of the local social fabric, leaving behind records in parish registers and legal documents that help historians track their movement across the English landscape.
Ashworth Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Aesc and Worth
Ash tree and an enclosed homestead or settlement.
This name
AshworthAn individual who lived at an enclosed homestead near an ash tree.
also spelled
Ashwirth
Ashwarth
Ashwort
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
Ekwall, Eilert, The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-names, 1936
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records
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
