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.

Asterley

Major Settlement in the Parish of Pontesbury

Historical Forms

  • Estrelega 1208 SAS2/X
  • Esterleg' 1255-6 Ass
  • Asterlege 1252 MGS
  • Astreleye 1291-2 Ass
  • Estleg' 1255 RH
  • Asturlegh' l.13th SBL3836
  • Asturley 1396 Fine 1555 SBL3653
  • Asturley iuxta Cawes 1398 SBL5435

Etymology

'Eastern clearing', v. ēasterra , lēah , identical with Asterleigh PN O 359. In this instance the name probably refers to the position of the settlement in relation to Minsterley, Westley and Winsley. The four items form a close-set cluster of lēah names.Caus is over two miles W., and not an obvious choice of affix.

Places in the same Parish