Asquith

Variations – Hesketh
Racial Origin – English
Source – A given name

Here is a family name, widely known if not widely borne, which would be a good bit of a puzzle were it not possible to trace it back, step by step, through the centuries to a source in an old Anglo-Saxon given name.

This latter is one of those which have entirely disappeared in the course of the development in nomenclature which followed the Norman invasion and the language changes of more modern times. And it might be remarked here that the number of Anglo-Saxon given names which have disappeared completely is far greater than those which are still in use today.

In this case the name was “Hescuilth.” It probably suffered a loss in the period immediately following the Norman invasion. Nevertheless, the old names were related to a certain extent among the subdued Anglo-Saxons probably the greatest number of them disappearing in the latter period of amalgamation than the earlier one of subjugation.  But the name had not entirely disappeared at the time family names began to form, and it is first traceable as “Hescuith’s son.” Ease of pronunciation first caused the dropping of the ending and then the Changes in spelling to the two modern forms.