Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Scelford c.1050 KCD907 13th InqEl 1086 LibEl 1170

• Magna Scelford, Parua Scelford 1218 SR 1221 ElyA 1279 RH

• Scelfort c.1050 LibEl 12th

• Scelforda 1086 ICC

• Scelforð 1086 InqEl

• S(c)hel(e)ford(a) c.1060 ElyM 1437 Pat

• Maior S(c)hel(e)ford(a) 13th Ely

• Petyt S(c)hel(e)ford(a) 1335 Ass

• Moch S(c)hel(e)ford 1465 IpmR

• Schelforth(e) 1502 ElyA 1554 CHuASv

• Escelford(e) 1086 DB

• Esceldford, Esceldforð 1086 InqEl

• Sceldford(a) 1086 InqEl 1109–31 LibEl

• Sceldfort c.1120 HarlCh

• Scheldford 1109–33 ElyM c.1130 ElyD 1176,1190 P 1354 CGild

• Sel(e)ford(e) 1198 Fees 1289 ElyA

• Seld(e)ford 1201 Cur 1236 Barnwell 13th Jesus 1257 Cl

• Seld(e)fort 13th StJohn's

• Shelleford 1279 Ct

• Seforđ 1199 CurR

• Scheford 1275 RH

• Chileford 1272 Ass

• Chel(e)ford(e) 1277 Ely 1316,1412 FA 1450 SR

• Shaldeford 1343 Pat

• Shulford 1582 ADvi

Etymology

Ekwall has suggested (DEPN) that the first element is either OE  sceld , 'shield, protection,' in the sense 'shelter' as in Sheldwich (PN K 293) or an OE  sceldu , 'shallowness, shallow place.' The first suggestion is not really satisfactory for, even though there is a camp near by (Fox 178), we have no evidence that OE  sceld was used of any form of physical protection other than a shield. The second alternative is therefore more probable. Hence 'ford through the shallow place,' v. ford and Shell Fm infra 200.