Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Celdestane, Celdestone 1086 DB

• Scaldestuna Hyi Ch 1267

• Shaldestun c.1200 HarlCh85E40

• S(c)haldeston 1227 Ass 1242 Fees870 1255 For 1316 FA 1317,1377 Cl 1391 Pat

• Saldestone 1199 HarlCh85C25 1230 WellsR 1237 Fees 1284 FA

• Chaldeston(e) 1255 For 1373 Pat 1512,1542 LP

• Scheldestone, Scaldeston' 1291 Tax

• Saldistone 1302 FA

• S(c)halleston 1422 ADiv 1766 J

• Shaweston al. Shalston 1522–47 Linc

• Shalson 1584 Archd

• Shaulston 1680 Terr

Etymology

It would seem that the first element in this name must be the same as that in Shelswell (O), just four miles away, of which most of the early forms similarly vary between Scheld - and Schald - with one form Scildeswelle in DB, apparently an error.A pers. name *Sceald is not found elsewhere, but it seems more reasonable to assume it than to take sceald as a common noun in the gen. case, the adj. sceald used substantivally to denote a 'shallow ford' or the like, for such genitival compounds are very rare and the early substantival use of schald is otherwise unknown.