Astlett

This rare and unusual patronymic surname has ancient origins. It is Norman-Viking and as such pre 8th century, and not recorded in England until after the 1066 invasion. It derives from the early German 'Azo' through to the Norman- French 'Ascelot' and as such was used as a baptismal name. The Normans, who were originally Vikings, those that marched rather than sailed, had 'borrowed' it from the German tribes that they vanquished as they plundered their way from Scandanavia to France in the later 'Dark ages'. 'Azo' was a popular name which is also found in the surnames- Ace, Aslin, and Ashlin. The modern surname spellings of Aslie, Aslet, Aslett, Aslott, and Astlett all have the same meaning of 'the son of Azo' or perhaps 'Little Azo'. The earliest recordings, although not as a surname, are probably Rogerus filius Aselot in the Curia Regis rolls of Lincoln in 1191 during the reign of Richard 1st, known as 'Lionheart', and Johannes filius Ascelot in the Oxford Rolls of 1221 in the reign of King Henry 111 (1216 - 1272). Later recordings include William Asselot of Sussex in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex and John Aslotte of Kent in 1580. Church recording examples showing the 18th century developments are those of William Aslott of Sunbury on Thames on June 1st 1697, Thomas Aslett, a witness at the famous church of St Giles Cripplegate, London, on November 15th 1724, and Martha Aslet, who married Richard Carrington at St Leonards, Shoreditch, on May 11th 1794. The coat of arms has the distinctive and unmistakeable blazon of a silver field charged with a red lion rampant. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Hugh Asselote, which was dated 1327, the Subsidy Rolls of the county of Suffolk, during the reign of King Edward 111, known as 'The father of the English navy', 1327 - 1377. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.