This is a dialectually transposed locational name from a place called Aspinwall in the parish of Aughten in Lancashire. The name derives from the Olde English pre 7th century 'oespen' meaning 'aspen' or 'trembling popular' and 'woella' a 'spring' or 'well'. The surname from this source is first recorded towards the middle of the 13th century. The spelling Aspinall occurs in conjunction with Aspinwall in 'the Wills Records at Chester' (1591-96). In 1782, one Humphrey Aspinall married an Elizabeth Lech in St. George's Church, Hanover Square (London Marriage Licence Records). In the modern idiom the name is spelt Aspinall, Aspinwall and Aspinell. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Henry de (of) Aspenewell which was dated 1246 The Assize Court Rolls of Lancashire during the reign of King Henry 111 the Frenchman 1216-1271 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.