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.

Shearston

Early-attested site in the Parish of Blackawton

Historical Forms

  • Schinreston 13th Torre 15th
  • Shynnerston 1330 SR
  • Scynneriston 1333 SR

Etymology

The first element is probably the ME  surname Shinner . Cf. Shinners Bridge supra 298. This ME surname is, as suggested by Professor Ekwall, derived from OE  scinnere , 'magician.'