the “salisbury” in salisbury steak refers to what?

The “Salisbury” in Salisbury steak refers to Dr. James H. Salisbury , an American physician who promoted a meat-centered diet in the 1800s.

Why that name stuck

Salisbury steak is a ground-beef patty dish named after him, not the city or the English town. His name became attached to the dish because he advocated eating minced beef as part of his diet theory.

What the dish is

Modern dictionaries describe Salisbury steak as ground beef mixed with ingredients like egg, milk, bread crumbs, and seasonings, formed into a patty and cooked. It is usually served with gravy.

TL;DR: It’s named after Dr. James Salisbury, not a place.