Show ContentsAshborne History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Ashborne

What does the name Ashborne mean?

The name Ashborne is tied to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England. It comes from the ancient Saxon name Aescbeorn, which means spear bearer.

The name could have been a lost occupational name for someone who was a "Ashburner," who was "a limeburner or charcoal burner," from the Old English word "beornan,' meaning "to burn." 1

Early Origins of the Ashborne family

The surname Ashborne was first found in Ashbourne, a well-known parish in Derbyshire. 2 Now known as Ashbourn, it is a market-town and parish, comprising the townships of Hulland, HullandWard, Hulland-Intacks, Sturston, and Yeldersley, in the hundred of Appletree. "This place, which at the time of the Conquest was held in royal demesne, is in Domesday Book called Esseburn." 3 4

The place name literally means "stream where ash-tress grow." 5 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 had two entries for the family, both with the original "E" prefix: Robert de Essebunie and Henry de Essebourne. Both held lands at that time in Derbyshire.

The Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III. included an entry for Thomas de Assheburne, Derbyshire, 20 Edward I (during the twentieth year of King Edward I's reign.) 6 And in Norfolk, Thomas de Asheborne was Rector of Colveston in 1351. 7

Early History of the Ashborne family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ashborne research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1382, 1384, 1626, 1737, 1772, 1777, 1793, 1810, 1844 and 1869 are included under the topic Early Ashborne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ashborne Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Ashburner, Eshburner, Ashbourner, Asburner and others.

Early Notables of the Ashborne family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Thomas of Ashborne (fl. 1382), an English theological controversialist, was a native of Ashborne in Derbyshire, and became an Austin friar there. He went to Oxford and took the degree of master in the...


Ashborne migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Ashborne Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Elizabeth Ashborne, who arrived in Maryland in 1650 8
  • James Ashborne, who landed in Maryland in 1650 8
  • Peter Ashborne, who arrived in Maryland in 1656 8

Ashborne migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ashborne Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Ashborne, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Medina" 9


The Ashborne Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Actio virtutis laus
Motto Translation: The action of the power of praise


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  5. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  6. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  7. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MEDINA 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/medina1852.shtml


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