Skelton
Major Settlement in the Parish of Overton
Historical Forms
- Sc(h)eltun 1086 DB
- Escheltona 1090–5 Pat 1433
- Skelton 1181–4 YCh 1244 Ass
- Schelton 1248 Ebor 1289,1295 For
- Scheltunam 1308 Ch
Etymology
Skelton is a common name in Yorkshire; there are two more in the North Riding, and others in the East and West Ridings.The spellings in each case are identical and the places are on or near streams, but there is some doubt as to the etymology of the first element. There are two possibilities.
The first is that the name is of the same origin as several English Sheltons, which contain OE scelf , 'shelf, shelving terrain of land' (v. scylf ). There is, however, only a slight rise of land at Skelton and it is doubtful if this could be called a scelf when compared with the ledges of land which are certainly referred to in this word, as at Raskelf. Skelton in LangE (145 infra ) is in the valley-bottom, whilst Skelton in GillW (293 infra ) may well contain OE scelf . If this is the correct etymology, there is no difficulty over the phonology, for -f was lost at an early date in Raskelf 26infra . Initial Sk - (for Sh -) is due to Scandinavian influence. It has been observed however that there is difficulty in the topography of this Skelton, and, as in the case of Skelton (LangE) and Skelton near Leeds (YWR, Sceltune 1086 DB, Scheltunam 1154–66 YCh 1770), standing on the bank of the Aire, there is more likelihood of the alternative explanation being the right one.
In addition to the parallel names already cited we must take into consideration the name of the river Skell near Ripon (YWR), Schelbec 1170–5RegAlb i. 72, Scheldene 1179 ib. i. 71 d, Scheldale c. 1200 Fount, and Skelfleet, the name of a stream near Broomfleet (YER), Skelflete in the 17th cent.. From this it appears that Skell was a river-name and in some cases such as the present Skelton, Skelton (LangE), and Skelton near Leeds, this river-name may form the first element. This Skelton stands a little distance from a stream which rises at Skelton Spring, Skelton (LangE) is by Skelton Beck, and Skelton near Leeds is on the Aire. On the river Skell near Ripon is another Skelton (olim Schelton ). Probably the river-name Skell is identical with the Norw river-name Skjellaen , from ON skellr , 'clatter, splash,' being related to the ON verb skalla , 'to clatter' (cf. NElv 219); the Norw stream-name Skjelle , evidenced in ONorw as í Skælli (NG i. 85) is of the same origin.
The probability is that Skelton in this case means 'farm near the river Skell' and the river-name has not survived independently. v. tun .