Askew History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Askew family

The surname Askew was first found in the county of Cumberland, however some of the family were found at Aughton in the East Riding of Yorkshire in early times.

“The church [of Aughton], the chancel of which was rebuilt in 1839, has a low embattled tower, built by Christopher, son of the unfortunate Robert Aske who was beheaded at York in the reign of Henry VIII., 1537, as a principal in the insurrection called the “Pilgrimage of Grace,” occasioned by the suppression of the monasteries. On the chancel floor is a fine brass slab, on which are graven the effigies of Richard Aske and his lady, who died in the fifteenth century. Near the east bank of the river Derwent the moats and trenches of an ancient castle are still visible; and in the vicinity of the church is a large mound of earth, the site of the castellated mansion of the Aske family.” 1

Eske is a township, in the parish of St. John, Beverley, union of Beverley, N. division of the wapentake of Holderness, in the East Riding of Yorkshire. “This place, in Domesday Book Asche, derives its name from the British word signifying water. It was given at an early period to the collegiate church of St. John.” 1