It was described as Shimotsuke no kuni Ashikaga-eki in "Engishiki" (an ancient book for codes and procedures on national rites and prayers), and Ashikaga-gun Ekiya-go in "Wamyo Ruijusho" (A dictionary of Japanese names).
『延喜式』には下野国足利駅、『和名類聚抄』では足利郡駅家郷と記されている。