Ashburton

Ashburton is the name of several places in the English-speaking world. The toponym is of English origin, typically formed from elements meaning ash trees and either a fort or a stream, reflecting historical landscape features and settlement names.

Ashburton, Devon, England, is a historic market town and civil parish in the Teignbridge district on the edge of Dartmoor. It developed as a market town in the Middle Ages and retains a medieval church and guildhall. Its traditional economy was tied to agriculture and the wool trades; today it combines local services, tourism, and light industry, with access to moorland countryside and outdoor recreation.

Ashburton, Canterbury, New Zealand, is a town in the Canterbury region of the South Island. It serves as the administrative centre of the Selwyn District and lies in the Mid Canterbury area. The surrounding district is heavily agricultural, with dairy farming, cropping, and horticulture forming major activities. The town provides services, schooling, and cultural facilities and acts as a gateway to nearby rivers, mountains, and nature-based recreation.

Other places named Ashburton exist in various countries, and the name is used for districts, neighborhoods, and institutions that reflect the common English toponymic heritage. In each location, the name points to historical landscape or settlement patterns that influenced early naming.