Axup Family History

Perhaps from Ashop Farm in Hope Woodlands (Derbys), which is recorded as Asshop, Aschope, Esshop in the 13th century. The place-name derives from Old English æsc ‘ash-tree’ + hop ‘valley’. For the possible development to Ax- with metathesis of -sc- to -cs-, compare the place-name Axford (Wilts) in which Old English æsc in the genitive plural form æsca appears to be the first element (see Axford).

However, forms of the place-name Ashop with -x- have not been found and there may be no connection between the medieval and post-medieval bearers cited below.