'asaphus' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'Asaphos' (Ἄσαφος), originally a proper name; it was later adopted in Latinized form as a scientific name.

'asaphus' was Latinized in scientific taxonomy during the 19th century and adopted as the formal genus name 'Asaphus' for certain Ordovician trilobites; this taxonomic usage is the source of the modern English term.

Initially a personal or proper name in Greek, the term evolved into a technical scientific name referring specifically to a genus of trilobites.