Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “Ashley” come from?

Ashley is an English place name derived from Old English lēah meaning "clearing," ultimately from Proto-Indo-European lewk- meaning "to shine" or "bright."

Ancestry of “Ashley”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old EnglishÆscleah—
2Old Englishæsċash tree; ash, spear, lance, ship
3Old Englishtrēo—
4Proto-West Germanictreutree; wood
5Proto-Germanictrewątree
6EnglishdoruAlternative form of dory
7Ancient Greekδόρυwood, tree, stem; spear shaft, spear, lance,...
8Proto-Hellenicdórutree
9Proto-Indo-Europeandórutree
10Proto-Indo-Europeandrew-hard, firm, strong, solid; hard, fast; tree

Words derived from “Ashley”

  • Ashley
Every word from Proto-Indo-European drew- →