Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• le Forsakenho(c), le Forsakenhok' 1300 Wych

• Saken house 1551–2 Survey

• Forsaken Hooke, Forsakenho(s)e 1608–9 Survey

• Shekenhowe, Shakenhoofe 17th Survey

Etymology

Shakenoak Fm takes name from le Forsakenho (c ), le Forsakenhok '1300 Wych, Saken house 1551–2Survey , Forsaken Hooke , Forsakenho (s )e 1608–9Survey , Shekenhowe , Shakenhoofe 17thSurvey . The original meaning was 'the deserted oak,' referring perhaps to an oak tree in a clearing. The name had evidently ceased to convey this by the 16th century, and the later forms are due to popular etymology.Also, by the time of the earliest reference, the name had come to be that of an extensive wood. It occurs three times in the surveys of different parts of Wychwood Forest given in Wych; in the first reference it is near the north boundary of Stonesfield, in the second it is on the south-west boundary of Wychwood, and in the third it is near the modern farm.