Sheepstor
Major Settlement in the Parish of Sheepstor
Historical Forms
- Sitelestorra 1168 P
- Sytelestorre 1242 Fees
- Schetelestorre 1181 P 1356 Exon
- Schitelestor(re) 1219 Ass
- Schitelestar 1303 FA
- Schytlestorre 1375 Exon
- Scitelstor 1244 Ass
- Skytelestor 1262 Ipm
- Schidistorre 1378 IpmR
- Scitestorr(e) 1408 Dartmoor
- Shittystorr(e) 1422 Ass
- Shettestorr(e) 1453 Pat
- Shittestorr(e) 1474 Ct
- Shistor 1547 Dartmoor
- Shepystorr 1574 Deed
- Shipstor 1607 Recov
- Shetelstor now Shepstor c.1620 Risdon
- Shippistor al. Shittistor 1691 Recov
- Sheepstor al. Shittestor 1695 Recov
Etymology
The first element might be the OE pers. name Scyttel (cf. Shillington PN BedsHu 173), but it is perhaps more likely that we have here the OE scyttel (s ), 'bar, bolt.' The tor is suggestive of such when viewed from certain points. The substitution of p for t was probably an attempt to prevent the unpleasant suggestions of the old form of the name.