Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Shelek(es)holes 1251 ElyCouch 1277 Ely

• Shelfold(e) c.1465 ElyB t.Hy8,1575 Rental 1604 Atkyns

• (le) Schelf(fh)ol(l)es, Schefolles 1539 Rental

• Schelfforthe 1549 Ct

• Shelfo(u)ld(e)s 1575,1600 Rental 1575 Survey

• Great Shelford, Little Shelford 1636 BedL

• Shelford, Shelford corner 1575 Survey

• Long Shelford c.1840 TA

• Shelford(e)s, Shefelds 1575 Rental

Etymology

Long Shelfords, Short Shelfords with Shelford's Fm (all 6″) are Shelek (es )holes 1251ElyCouch , 1277Ely , Shelfold (e )c. 1465ElyB , t. Hy 8, 1575Rental , 1604Atkyns , (le ) Schelf (fh )ol (l )es , Schefolles 1539Rental , Schelfforthe 1549Ct , Shelfo (u )ld (e )s 1575, 1600Rental , 1575Survey , Great Shelford , Little Shelford 1636 BedL, Shelford , Shelford corner 1575Survey , Long Shelford c. 1840TA , Shelford (e )s , Shefelds 1575Rental . This is probably a compound of OE  sceolh , 'oblique, awry' in the sense of 'shelving, sloping' and so 'shallow,' and holh . Hence 'shallow hollow(s).' The places lie along the Ouse and near Mere Holes, the site of Willingham Mere. Farther along the Ouse were The Shoals infra .