Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Scardingwell, Skardingwell, Skardyngwell 1202,1225,1548 FF 1561 Visit

• Scarthingwell, Skarthingwell, Skarthyngwell 1333 FF 1402 FA 1504 Testiv 1527 WillY

• Skyrthyngwell 1407 YI

• Scharthingwell 1545 PRSxt

Etymology

The first el. is of uncertain origin. It could be a Scandinavianised form of an OE  scearding , from sceard 'gap (in a fence, in the hills, etc.)' with -ing 1 (noun-forming suffix) or -ing 4 (a p.n. connective theme), or it could be a derivative of the ON  pers.n. Skarði (cf. Scarborough YN 105). The former seems more likely and the sceard or scearding would no doubt refer to the recess in the hills called Dinting Dale up which the road to Saxton passes. 'Stream or spring in the gap', v. wella . On the Skyrth - form cf. Phonol. § 14.