The surname of ASHWOOD was an English topographic name for somebody who lived by an ash wood, or a habitation name from a minor place so called. The name was originally derived from the Old English 'aesc' (ash) and 'wudu' meaning wood. The name is a variant of Ashworth. Local names find their origins in the villages, towns and areas where people were born, or from the land they owned. In the Middle Ages, a man was identified by his place of birth and almost every city, town and village existing medieval times has originated one or more family names. Anyone leaving his birthplace would be known to new friends and neighbours by the name of his former residence, his birthplace, or the land he owned. Early records of the name mention ASWUDE (without surname) who was documented in the year 1232, and ASSEWODE (without surname) appears in County Cheshire in the year 1292. The rise of surnames, according to the accepted theory, was due to the Norman Conquest of 1066 when Old English personal-names were rapidly superseded by the new christian names introduced by the Normans. Of these, only a few were really popular and in the 12th century this scarcity of christian names led to the increasing use of surnames to distinguish the numerous individuals of the same name. Some Normans had hereditary surnames before they came to England, but there is evidence that surnames would have developed in England even had there been no Norman Conquest. The development of the feudal system made it essential that the king should know exactly what service each person owed. Payments to and by the exchequer required that debtors and creditors should be particularized, and it became official that each individual acquired exact identification. Later instances of the name mention John Ashworth of Castleton, County Lancashire, who was listed in the Wills at Chester in 1617, and Oliver Ashworth of Wolfenden, County Lancashire, appears in the same Wills in the year 1651. Robert Sewell and Ann Ashworde were married at St. George's, Hanover Square, London in 1765.The associated coat of arms is recorded in Sir Bernard Burkes General Armory. Ulster King of Arms in 1884. Translation of arms: Gules (red) denotes Military Fortitude and Magnanimity. Argent (white) means Peace and Sincerity, and the Griffin symbolizes Vigilancy, Valour and Perseverance.