Show ContentsAshbrook History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Ashbrook is an old Anglo-Saxon name. It comes from when a family lived in Gloucestershire, in the village of Ashbrook. The name was originally rendered in the Old English from esbrock, a word indicating a place where ash trees grew by a stream or brook.

Early Origins of the Ashbrook family

The surname Ashbrook was first found in Gloucestershire, at Ashbrook, listed as Esbroc and Estbroce in the Domesday Book. 1 At that time, Esbroc was part of the Gersdones hundred, land held by Durand of Gloucester and was the size of one hide, land enough for one household with one plough, one border and one slave. However, the reference also lists Estbroce in the same Hundred, but smaller in size at a virgate which was one-quarter of a hide in size and held by Humphrey the Chamberlain. Today, little evidence is found of Ashbrook, Gloucestershire.

Early History of the Ashbrook family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ashbrook research. Another 220 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1190, 1218, 1258, 1265, 1353 and 1798 are included under the topic Early Ashbrook History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ashbrook Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Ashbrook were recorded, including Ashbrooke, Ashbrook, Ashbrock, Ashbruck, Ashbroc, Ashbruc, Assebroc, Aschbroc and many more.

Early Notables of the Ashbrook family

More information is included under the topic Early Ashbrook Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ashbrook Ranking

In the United States, the name Ashbrook is the 15,934th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2


United States Ashbrook migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Ashbrook family emigrate to North America:

Ashbrook Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Ashbrook, who landed in Maryland in 1646 3
  • John Ashbrook, who sailed to Maryland in 1646
  • Thomas Ashbrook, who arrived in Maryland in 1648 3
  • John Ashbrook to New Jersey in 1697
Ashbrook Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hanna Ashbrook to America in 1759
Ashbrook Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Anna Ashbrook, aged 19, who immigrated to America from Stockport, in 1896
  • Emma Ashbrook, aged 50, who immigrated to the United States from Stockport, in 1896
  • Mrs. Ashbrook, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States from Liverpool, in 1897
Ashbrook Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Charlotte Ashbrook, aged 20, who landed in America, in 1905
  • Charles Ashbrook, aged 39, who immigrated to the United States from Warrington England, in 1906
  • Carmen Ashbrook, aged 17, who landed in America, in 1908
  • Joseph Ashbrook, aged 70, who immigrated to America, in 1910
  • Herbert Grey Ashbrook, aged 41, who settled in America, in 1911
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Ashbrook (post 1700) +

  • William Ashbrook (1922-2009), American musicologist, writer, journalist, and academic from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
  • William Albert Ashbrook (1867-1940), American businessman, newspaper publisher, and politician from Johnstown, Licking County, Ohio
  • Temple W. Ashbrook (1896-1976), American silver medalist sailor at the 1932 Summer Olympics
  • Stephen Ashbrook (b. 1969), American singer songwriter from Portland, Oregon
  • Stanley Bryan Ashbrook (1882-1958), distinguished American philatelist from Kentucky
  • Dana Ashbrook (b. 1967), American actor, best known for playing Bobby Briggs on the television series Twin Peaks
  • Arthur Ashbrook, prominent American economist
  • Joseph Ashbrook (1918-1980), American astronomer
  • John M. Ashbrook (1928-1982), American Congressman
  • Daphne Ashbrook (b. 1963), American actress
  • ... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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