Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Eseltone 1086 DB

• Sheltune 1197 FF

• Selton 1202 Ass 1236 Cl 1284 FA 1287 Ass

• Scelton 1202 Ass 1302 FA

• S(c)helton 1242 Fees893 1243 FF

• Sylton 1276 Ass

• Schylton, Schilton 1276 Ass 1282 Ipm

• Selton al. Shelton 1292 Ipm

Etymology

Skeat's suggestion is that this should be interpreted as from OE  scelf -tūn , 'farm on shelving or sloping ground,' with the same first element that is found in the unidentified Scelfdun of BCS 264. This is the same as the element scylf discussed in EPN. Such an interpretation fits the situation of this place and of Shelton in Marston Moretaine infra 80. The only difficulty lies in the early and complete loss of the f , but it is clear that this is not a serious one, for Shelton (Sa) has Sultone , Schelton and Chelton as its early forms in the 11th and 12th cent., forms with f first appearing in the 13th (cf. Bowcock, PN Sa). So also there can be little doubt that Sheldon near Chippenham (W), though the early forms show no f , must contain this element as also Sheldon (Wa). Both are names of well- marked hills. For Shelton (St), Shilton (O, Wa) we have forms with f and similar topography and the same is true of Shelley (Sf, Sx, Y). Shelton (Nf, Nt), Earl Shilton (Lei) show forms similar to the Beds names. Derivation from scelf might conceivably suit the Norfolk place, and it will suit the Leicestershire name, but it is distinctly not applicable to the Nottinghamshire one.On the whole it would seem that scelf , scylf denote sharply falling ground rather than that which shelves gently. Ekwall points out (PN in -ing 40) that such a sense would suit Shelve (K) and similarly it applies to Shell or Shelve (Wo). Shelfanger (Nf) is an interesting example of a compound in which the second element (v. hangra ) expresses the same idea as that suggested for the first.