An English surname, Ashbrook comes from the Old English terms of ’east’ and ’broc’ which refer to the eastward nook or brook where ash trees grow. Variations in spelling of Ashbrook include Astbrok, Ashbrooke, Ashbroc, Ashbruck, Aschbroc and Assebroc. The Lancashire and Cheshire regions of England are where most with the Ashbrook name reside. Just in West Lothian, Scotland has there been any number of Ashbrook families. Within the United States the Ashbrook families settled primarily in Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois, Missouri, Texas and California. Famous: Daphne Ashbrook (a television and movie actress), Joseph Ashbrook (acclaimed astronomer), Arthur Ashbrook (renown economist), Dana Ashbrook (actor) and John M. Ashbrook (politician in U.S. Congress).