English Place-name Society

Survey of English Place-Names

A county-by-county guide to the linguistic origins of England’s place-names – a project of the English Place-Name Society, founded 1923.

Sca Fell

Early-attested site in the Parish of Eskdale and Wasdale

Historical Forms

  • (frithes or fences called) Skallfeild 1578 Cocker
  • Scoffield-Rana 1750 Pococke
  • the mountain Scofell or Scowfell 1794 H

Etymology

In spite of the 16th-century form Skallfeild , the second element here is clearly fiall . The first may well be the ON  skalli , 'bald head.'Skalla-Grímr of Njálssaga was so nicknamed because he showed a bald head at an early age.