A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Askey family of England.
Reg. 2627 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
Colours
ErmineMeans: Dignity
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
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)
“Erm. three escutcheons gu”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Askey Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Askey arms are recorded
The Askey arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
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.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Askey 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 Askey Family in England
The surname Askey is a topographical name that likely originated in the northern regions of England. It is derived from the Old Norse words "askr," meaning an ash tree, and "ey," meaning an island or a dry patch of land surrounded by marshes. This suggests that the earliest members of the family lived near a prominent ash tree located on a small island or a patch of elevated ground. By the year 1620, historical records confirm that the Askey family had established a firm presence in York. During this period, the city was a major hub for trade and administration, and families like the Askeys were often involved in local crafts or merchant guilds. Over the centuries, the spelling of the name evolved from early variations to the modern form, reflecting the way names were recorded by clerks who wrote them down based on how they sounded in local dialects.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ask
Old Norse word for the ash tree.
This name
AskeyA patronymic surname meaning son of the ash tree or son of Ask.
also spelled
Askay
Askie
Aske
Related arms
Askevariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
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escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
escutcheonA shield within a shield, and a claim inherited
