'asherite' originates from Hebrew, specifically the name 'Asher' (Hebrew 'אָשֵׁר' / 'ʼĀšēr'), where the name meant 'happy' or 'blessed', combined with the English suffix '-ite' (ultimately from Greek '-ites') meaning 'belonging to' or 'descendant of'.

'Asher' comes from Biblical Hebrew; the relational suffix '-ite' entered English via Greek -ίτης (-ítēs) through Latin and Old French. The compound form 'Asherite' appears in medieval and early modern biblical translations and continued into modern English as 'asherite(s)'.

Initially it referred specifically to an individual belonging to the family or tribe of Asher in biblical contexts; over time it has remained a specialized term referring to members or descendants of that tribe.