The surname of ASKILL was a baptismal name meaning 'the son of Ashkettle'. The name was brought into England in the wake of the Norman Invasion of 1066. The name is also spelt AKSEL, HASKEL, ASTELL, ASTILL and ASKIN, to name but a few. The earliest of the name on record appears to be ASKELL (without surname) who was listed as a tenant in the Domesday Book of 1086. The Norman Conquest in England in the year of 1066 revolutionized our personal nomenclature. The old English name system was gradually broken up and old English names became less common and were replaced by new names from the continent. Most of the early documents deal with the upper classes who realised that an additional name added prestige and practical advantage to their status. Names of peasants rarely occurred in medieval documents. In 1086 the compilation of the Domesday Book was ordered by William the Conqueror (1027-87), king of England from 1066. He was born in Falaise, the bastard son of Robert, Duke of Normandy, by Arlette, a tanner's daughter. On his father's death in 1035, the nobles accepted him as a duke. When Edward the Confessor, King of England died in 1066, William invaded England that Autumn, on 14th October, 1066 killing Harold (who had assumed the title of King). English government under William assumed a more feudal aspect, the King's tenants-in-chief and all title to land was derived from his grants, and the Domesday Book contains details of the land settlements, and the names of the owners of such. Robert ASKETIL of County Somerset, who was documented during the reign of Edward III (1327-1377). Simon ASKETEL, was the rector of Boyton, County Norfolk in the year 1361, and Roger ASKETIL was the rector of Randworth, Norfolk in 1391. The name has many variant spellings which include ASKETTLE, ASKELL, HASKILL, AISKELL and ASKELL. A later instance of the name mentions Ales ASKELL (widowe) who was married at St. Mary, Aldermary, London, England in the year 1563. In the Middle Ages heraldry came into use as a practical matter. It originated in the devices used to distinguish the armoured warriors in tournament and war, and was also placed on seals as marks of identity. As far as records show, true heraldry began in the middle of the 12th century, and appeared almost simultaneously in several countries of Western Europe.