English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Ashby

Major Settlement in the Parish of Ashby cum Fenby

Historical Forms

  • Achesbi 1086 DB
  • Aschebi 1086 DB c.1115 LS
  • Ascbi c.1115 LS
  • Askebi 1196 ChancR 1202 Ass 1204 P
  • Askeby 1202 FF 1205 Cur 1207 FF 1210 Cur 1210–12 RBE 1226–28,1242–43 Fees 1254 ValNor 1257,1262 FF 1280 Ch 1281 QW 1291 Tax 1295 Ipm 1303 FA 1428 et freq
  • Askebi 1238–41 Fees
  • Askebi Iuxta Grymmesby 1287 Ass
  • Askebi “near” Grimesby 1335 Cl
  • Askebi “by” Fanneby (sic) 1299 Pat
  • Askebi “near” Fenneby 1300 Cl
  • Askebi juxta Fanneby 1300 Orig
  • Askebi “by” Waltham 1328 Banco
  • Askebi “near” Briggesle 1334 Cl
  • Askebi juxta Briggesby (sic) 1346 del'Isle
  • Haskebi 1212 Fees
  • Haskeby 1256–57 RAx
  • Askby 1276 RH 1388 Peace 1402,1431 FA
  • Ascheby 1275,1276 RH
  • Asheby 1303 FA 1557 Pat
  • Ashebie 1557 InstBen 1576 LER
  • Ashbye 1595 BT
  • Ashbye iuxta Fenby 1623 Hill 1635 BT
  • Ashby 1595 1601 Terrier
  • Ashby in fenby 1728 MiscDep
  • Asseby 1526 Sub 1539–40 Dugdiv
  • Assby 1535 VE 1553 Pat
  • Asbye 1561 BT 1576 Saxton 1610 Speed 1658 BT 1675 Ogilby

Etymology

Fellows-Jensen, SSNEM 31–32, points out that there are six p.ns. Ashby in L. The forms of each are similar and it is clear that they are Danish compounds 'the farm, village where ash-trees grow', v. askr , It is possible, however, that the first el. is the ON , ODan  pers.n. Aski found occasionally in independent sources in L. Indeed, Sandred, JEPN 19, 9–10, assumes this pers.n. as the first el. of Ashby in Flegg Hundred (Nf).

There are also five Ashbys in Nth and three in Lei, the forms of each indicating that the first el. is OE  æsc 'an ash-tree', cognate with ODan  askr. This would suggest that they are partial Scandinavianizations of earlier English names, perhaps Ashton 'the farm, village, estate where ash-trees grow'. Fellows-Jensen, SSNEM 32, suggests that the L Ashbys are probably comparable and that they too may be Scandinavianizations of earlier English names. Whilst this is formally and theoretically possible, Danish influence is so strong in L that it would hardly be wise to look upon the Lincolnshire Ashbys as being other than their forms suggest, pure Danish compounds. Ashby, here, is probably to be interpreted as 'Aski's farmstead, village', v. . Ashby is occasionally described as being near Brigsley, Fenby, Great Grimsby and Waltham infra .