A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Aske family of England.
Reg. 7986 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
Colours
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Blue (Azure)Means: Loyalty and truth
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, three bars az. an annulet for diff”
YorkAske · York, c. 1620
Where the Aske Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Aske arms are recorded
The Aske arms were recorded in York, c. 1620.
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 Aske 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 York.
Origin & History of the Aske Family in England
The surname Aske is rooted in the landscape of Northern England, specifically taking its name from the village of Aske near Richmond in North Yorkshire. The name is of Old Norse origin, likely derived from the word "askr," which means ash tree. Families bearing this name were established landowners in the region for centuries, often playing significant roles in local administration and regional politics. By the year 1620, the family had a notable presence in the city of York, where they were integrated into the urban professional and social life of the time. This transition from rural landholders to city residents reflects the broader movement of northern gentry families toward administrative centers during the early seventeenth century. Their history is deeply tied to the development of Yorkshire, marking them as a family that helped shape the local culture and governance of the north for generations.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
askr
Old Norse word for an ash tree.
This name
AskeDerived from a topographic location near an ash tree or a settlement named after the tree.
also spelled
Askey
Related arms
Heskethrecorded with Aske, same area
Starkyrecorded with Aske, same area
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Smith, A. H., The Place-Names of the North Riding of Yorkshire, 1928
Speight, Harry, Romantic Richmondshire: Being a Complete Account of the History, Antiquities and Scenery of the Picturesque Valleys of the Swale and Yore, 1897
York City Archives, York House Books, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
ringFidelity, and a promise kept
