A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Askwith family of England.
Reg. 8838 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
Colours
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)
“Sa. a fesse betw. three crosses crosslet ar”
YorkshireYorkshire, c. 1620
Where the Askwith Arms Were Recorded
Yorkshire
Map of England showing where the Askwith arms are recorded
The Askwith arms were recorded in Yorkshire, 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 Askwith 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 Yorkshire.
Origin & History of the Askwith Family in England
The surname Askwith is a locative name, meaning it originated from a specific place rather than a trade or a personal characteristic. It is derived from the village of Askwith in the West Riding of Yorkshire, which sits near the River Wharfe. The name itself comes from Old Norse roots, combining the word for an ash tree with the word for a wood or clearing. By the year 1620, families bearing this name were well-established in the Yorkshire region, where they lived as farmers and local landowners. Because the name was tied to a physical location, it likely began as a way to identify individuals who had moved away from the village of Askwith to nearby towns. Over time, the spelling evolved from early variations into the modern form used today, reflecting the linguistic changes common in Northern England during the seventeenth century.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Ask-vithr
Old Norse elements meaning ash tree and wood or forest.
This name
AskwithA habitational name referring to a settlement located near an ash tree wood.
also spelled
Askewith
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
Smith, A.H., The Place-Names of the West Riding of Yorkshire, 1961
West Yorkshire Archive Service, Parish Registers for the Diocese of Ripon, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
cross symbolChristian faith and service
