Ainscough

Ainscough is an old Lancashire family name, also spelled Ayscough, Askew or Ascough.

Origins

It is thought that the name is derived from the Norse words "ask skog". Although other sources suggest that Aiskew is a corruption of the words "Eiki Skogr" translating to Oak Wood. An alternative Swedish translation for the name “enskog” is “juniper forest”, with the “en” pronounced “ain”. The "ain" part of the word meaning juniper, "skog" meaning wood or forest. In Medieval English the name was pronounced 'Akeskeugh' or as SAMPA suggests 'eInsk@U'. Today the name is pronounced 'Ains/co'.Other suggestions indicate that the name Ainscough is of French Hugenot origin. When William the Conqueror invaded England, he brought his army of knights. These knights from Normandy were given land for their effort during the invasion and were placed as his head of government in each Shire. Wikipedia has information about a plaque placed in Normandy Cathedral before leaving for England. This plaque has a list of knights. There are 2 knights listed as "Ansgot" which would have been the French spelling for Ainscough. Normandy was the protestant part of France. French Hugenot meaning French Protestant. However, further evidence is required to support this translation of the name.

Name variations include, as identified in Reaney's Dictionary of British Surnames: Ainscough, Ayscough, Ascough, Askew, Anscow, Askow, Ascow, Ascoe, Arscow Anescoe Aniscoe Anscow Ascoughe Aynstowe Askoes Asckoe Askoe Askowes Aynscow, Ainscowe and probably many more, though it must be remembered that bearers of these names are not all necessarily descended from the family.

Lancashire Ainscoughs

Recent research [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=41332&strquery=Aykescough] shows that there are references to Ainscoughs in the Ormskirk area as early as the 13thC - William of Ainscough was a beneficiary to the church in Ormskirk; and there is a reference in 'The Cartulary of Burscough Priory' (1199-c1230) to a piece of land in the Scarisbrick estate called Aykescogh (Oak Wood) in the 12thC. Interestingly, in the same document the spelling of the name changes, in 1199 this is referred to as a place called 'Ayscogh', but then changes just 50 years later to 'Aykescogh' (1245-c1260).

Some genealogical sources give the English-Scottish borders as the origin of the family, others claim Cumberland as the source. Given the various theories on the derivation of the name, it is possible that there were other, independent lineages with the same surname.

Ralph Ainscough (b.1899 in Horwich) recorded his grandfather Ralph (b.1841 in Aspull) telling him that older generations of the Ainscoughs - e.g. William (b.1816 in Blackrod) had pronounced the name as “Ainsker”. There is some documentary evidence for this as William’s younger brother Charles (b.1818 in Blackrod) gave his name as “Insker” on moving to Staffordshire in the 1840s. Some Yorkshire names acquired an internal “n” when crossing the Pennines into Lancashire. “Ainsker” may well have originated as “Aisker” - which is not far removed from the Anglo-Saxon “Aiks keogh” or oak wood. Given the common nature of places as surname origins, it is possible that there was more than one distinct line with the same surname.

Evidence of origin from the International Genealogical Index (IGI) is mixed and inconclusive. The IGI itself is a valuable but flawed resource. The current online database - which I shall term “IGI 2” - contains records contributed by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), many of which are questionable. The original pass through Britain’s parish records by LDS members was free of personal contributions and was available on microfiches in such centres as the library of the Society of Genealogists. I shall term this database “IGI 1”. This original database excluded many Catholic records, owing to the reluctance of Catholic priests to allow their records being transcribed by the LDS. It also failed to record some nonconformist register entries. Given these caveats, an examination of the 1,623 records of Ainscoughs in Lancashire in the original IGI 1 shows that the earliest recorded event was the christening of Thomas Ainscough - son of John - on 27th April 1549 in Chorley. The next was the marriage of Kateryn Aynscow to John Brindill (Katherine Ainscough & John Brindle) on 17th January 1550 in the parish of Chorley. In the same year, on the 20th January and in the same parish, Richard Aynscow married “Jone Leeds”. John, Katherine and Richard may have been siblings and quite possibly were born in the 1520s. The records in IGI 1 are drawn almost exclusively from Anglican records, but these three Ainscoughs may well have come from the Lincolnshire connection.

Notable Lancashire Ainscough

1. H&R Ainscough of Parbold - Hugh Ainscough (1816-1894) & Richard Ainscough (1818-1877), prosperous corn merchants, owners of 2 flour mills, Burscough (OS grid reference SD4411). Benefactors of Our Ladys and All Saints RC church founded in 1884 (OS grid reference SD494109) and the Catholic school in Parbold.

2. Thomas Ainscough (1865-1927)first class cricketer. Major team Lancashire. Batting style Left-hand bat. Born February 23 1865, Lancaster House, Parbold. Died November 20 1927 (aged 62 years 270 days) Captain of the Second Eleven and a member of the Committee. Many times he appeared in big matches for Liverpool and District teams, and in games against Yorkshire made scores of 61 not out, 50 and 61. 7th child of Hugh AINSCOUGH (1816-1894) and Susan (FAIRCLOUGH) AINSCOUGH (1830-1923).

3. Sir Thomas Martland Ainscough C.B.E.(1886-1976), Colonial administrator. A native of Wigan, and son of a former Mayor of the Borough. 37 years of public service in the Department of Overseas Trade, the last 26 of them as H.M. Senior Trade Commissioner for India, Burma, and Ceylon. His parents were James and Margaret Ainscough, of Parbold, Mayor and Mayoress of Wigan in 1922-23.

4. Captain Cyril Ainscough (1893-1915), 5th Bn, Manchester Regiment (Territorial), was killed in action in the Dardanelles on 7th August 1915 age 22 at Cape Helles Gallipoli, Turkey. Family home - Fairhurst Hall Parbold, Wigan. Listed in Burke’s Landed Gentry Vol 2, 1969 pages 5 & 6.

5. Anthony Lawrence Ainscough (1906-1986), Prior of Ampleforth College was born at Woodlands in Parbold on 10th May 1906. He was the third and youngest son of Thomas and Jane Ainscough. When Anthony was about 12 they moved to Lancaster House, Parbold, the old family home. 1960-75 Prior1975-86 at Ampleforth - 'honorary Prior' style VRev - teaching - later illness and retirement Died 11 Feb 1986 in York District Hospital and buried at Ampleforth on 18 Feb 1986.

6. Gerald Ainscough (1919-1985) - Founded Ainscough Crane Hire in 1976, Standish, Wigan, the UK's leading crane hire company which employs 1,000 people.

7. Major Oswald Whitwell Ainscough (1906-1995) of Casterton Hall, Kirkby Lonsdale, Westmorland, served in WW II 1939-45 as Major, 1st and 8th Bn Kings Regt in India and Burma. Director H. & R. Ainscough Ltd 1936-64; Director Liverpool Corn Trade Associate 1953-55; and Grain Contract Insurance Co 1953-55; Vice-Pres L.C.TA 1962; member Council N.F.C.TA 1962; Director Palace Hotel Co Southport 1934-50; and Casterton Estates Ltd from 1965;

8. Gerry Ainscough born Wigan 1964, played Rugby Union for Orrell (1983 to 1992 and 1993 to 1995), Leicester (1992/93) and Leeds Tykes (1996 to 1998). Represented Lancashire, North of England, England 'B' and England VII's. Made history in 1988 when he played Rugby Union at Twickenham (County Championship Final) after first playing Rugby League at Wembley (under 11's schoolboy "curtain-raiser" to the 1975 Challenge Cup Final).

9. Jonathan Ainscough born November 1985, is a classicaly trained opera singer. He now provides advanced singing lessons.

Lincolnshire Ayscoughs

The following theory was put forward by researchers in the 1970s and although interesting seems unlikely, since earlier evidence has been found showing Ainscoughs existed in Lancashire prior to a possible migration from Lincolnshire.

The Lincolnshire Ayscough family originated from Bedale and owned estates around Stallingborough, Ashby, South Kelsey, Basford, Nuttall and Spalding. Ayscoughfee Hall, now a preserved manor house in Spalding, was originally built by the rich wool merchant, Richard Alwyn in 1420 and then it was owned by the Lincolnshire Ayscough family in the early part of the 16th Century. The grant of land at Spalding was made to Sir William Ayscough (b.1490-d.1541) by Henry VIII. E.H. Gooch writes about "Ayscoughfee Hall" in his book "The History of Spalding", 1940.

In the 15th Century the Ayscoughs had supported the Lancastrian side during the Wars of the Roses and later held posts at the Courts of Henry VII and Henry VIII. Sir William Ayscough of Stallingborough was knighted in 1513 during the reign of Henry VIII, his eldest son Sir Francis Ayscough was knighted "at the wining of Boulogne" and was Sheriff of Lincoln in 1545, 1549 and 1554. He died in 1564 and is buried at St Mary's Church, South Kelsey, Lincolnshire. Sir William's youngest son Edward Ayscough (d.1558) was cup-bearer to Henry VIII from 1539-1547. Anne Askew (Ayscough) Kyme (1521-1546), the courageous English Protestant and persecuted heretic was also the daughter of Sir William. Unfortunately for Anne her zealousness led to her execution and she was burned at the stake for heresy in 1546.Reluctantly, the Ayscough family got caught up in the Lincolnshire Rising in 1536, a Catholic uprising against Henry VIII of England, against the dissolution of the monasteries. Sir William had ridden to Louth to keep the peace and uphold the law but instead found himself taken 'prisoner' by the rebels and was expected to represent their cause. Following this the Ayscough family fell out of favour with Henry VIII. However, Sir Francis continued to prosper by his own volition taking every opportunity to acquire land and so add to his estates. He died a convinced Protestant, clearly shown by the wording of his will.It is claimed (evidence required) that over the period which followed many of the Lincolnshire Ayscough family lost their estates, they migrated west to Lancashire, where they settled in the area around Mawdesley, near Croston, bleak wastes in the 16thC, as Farmers and Millers. However it does not seem possible to find specific evidence for this link, and without evidence the Lincolnshire origin seems increasingly tenuous. Researchers are requested to continue to investigate.

Sir Isaac Newton is also from an Ayscough family line, Hannah Ayscough his mother and possibly James Ascough born 1585, Ormskirk, Lancashire, his grandfather.

Notable Lincolnshire Ayscough (Aiscough)

1. William Ayscough (or William Aiscough) (?-d.1450), Bishop of Salisbury and Confessor to King Henry VI - of the Bedale/ Lincolnshire Ayscough line. He was nominated on February 11 1438 and consecrated on July 20 1438. "“Many of his tenants intending to joyne with Jack Cade, came to Edendon, took him from masse and drew him-to ye top of a hill, where they cleft his head as he kneeled and prayed, not farre fro Edendon and spoyl’d him to ye skin June ye 29, 1450.”"

2. Anne Askew (Ayscough) Kyme (1521-1546), English Protestant and persecuted heretic, daughter of Sir William of Stallingborough, Lincolnshire. In 1546 Anne was arrested three times for heresy, committed to the Tower, subjected to the rack, and burnt at Smithfield 16 July 1546.

3. Sir William Ayscough of Stallingborough (1497-1541), knighted in 1513 during the reign of Henry VIII. Alabaster busts and brasses dated c.1612 of Sir Edward, Sir Francis and Sir William can be found in the church of St Peter & St Pauls, Stallingborough. 4. Sir Francis Ayscough (c1509-1564) son of Sir William was knighted "at the wining of Boulogne", Sheriff of Lincoln in 1545, 1549 and 1554. Buried at St Mary's Church, South Kelsey, Lincolnshire.

5. Sir Edward Ayscough d.1558, youngest son of Sir William and cup-bearer to Henry VIII from 1539-1547. Buried at Keelby, Lincs.

6. Hannah Ayscough (1623-1679), mother of Isaac Newton (1642-1727). Hannah was born in Market Overton in Rutland in 1623. Her father was James Ayscough. Isaac Newton the elder (1606-1642) married Hannah Ayscough in April 1642 in Woolsthorpe, a hamlet within the Parish of Colsterworth.

Expansion, employment and trade

Early records come from the Churches of Croston, Ormskirk and Standish in Lancashire. Many Lancashire Ainscough families were Yeoman farmers and some of the family continued farming until the period of industrialisation. The Milling company of H & R Ainscough (Hugh and Richard of Parbold) established a successful business at Burscough and Southport. Branches of the family developed around Blackrod, and by the 19thC, across the whole of Lancashire. As industrialisation came to Lancashire, the women took work in cotton mills and the men on the railways, particularly the L&YR and the LMS.

In the early 1800s, most male - and some female - Ainscoughs in the villages of Blackrod, Haigh, Aspull were coal miners. They started as drawers, pulling coal carts, at the age of ten (until this was stopped by legislation), graduating to miners at around the age of sixteen. The area was rich in cannel coal, a high-grade, rich but volatile coal, and many mines were on the estate of the Earl of Crawford and Balcarres who lived at Haigh Hall. All but one of the five sons of Ralph (b.1782 in Blackrod) were miners - and nearly all male descendants of these Ainscoughs were also miners, as censuses from 1841 to 1901 attest. In the 1850s and 1860s, some of the Ainscough miners moved further afield to Westhoughton, Pemberton, Hindley and Ince, with some members of their families going into the silk and cotton weaving industries.

In 2006 several Ainscoughs featured in the Sunday Times Rich List.

Catholic tradition

Many branches of the family maintained the Catholic tradition after the Reformation,for 300 years till religious tolerance eased in the nineteenth century, members of the family being charged with recusancy, as recorded in "Return of the Papists". Many became priests, most prominently Anthony Ainscough, Prior of Ampleforth College. Business men H&R Ainscough Hugh and Richard Ainscough were the benefactors of the RC Church, Our Lady & All Saints, Parbold founded 1884 and also the local Catholic primary school.

The Catholicism or otherwise of the Lancashire Ainscoughs in general is also open to speculation. Prior to the Reformation, of course, all English people were Catholic by default. Evidence suggests that the Lincolnshire-based line Ayscough families turned away from Catholicism and towards Lutheran beliefs through the turbulent Reformation and Tudor religious periods. Many other Lancashire Ainscoughs were baptised in the Anglican churches of St. Katherine in Blackrod, and St. Peter in Bolton-le-Moors (now modern Bolton). Wesleyan Methodism also appealed to many working-class people in the mid-19th century, who saw the Anglican church as a bastion of the upper, ruling class, and there were Wesleyan chapels in many towns - such as Chorley - in Lancashire - where Ainscoughs were married.

Notable Australian Ainscough

1. Roy Ainscough (b.1943), who emigrated to Adelaide, South Australia to play semi-professional football for U.S.C.Lion in 1969, passed away on October 9 2007 aged 64. Since his arrival in South Australia Roy had been involved will football (soccer) at all levels, mostly as a coach. Roy also represented South Australia on several occasions including a game against an English FA representative side.

2. Jamie Ainscough (b.1972 Sydney), an Australian rugby league player for the Western Suburbs Magpies, Newcastle Knights, St George Illawarra Dragons, New South Wales and for the Australian national rugby league team. Ainscough played for English Super League side Wigan Warriors.