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.

Shelswell

Major Settlement in the Parish of Newton Purcell with Shelswell

Historical Forms

  • Scildeswelle 1086 DB
  • Suldewell 1138 Thame c.1200
  • Scheldeswelle c.1180–90 Eynsh
  • Scheldeswell' 1254–5 RH
  • Sheldeswell 1347 Ipm 1397 Cl 1428 FA
  • Scaldeswelle c.1195 Harl
  • Chaldeswelle 1297 Ipm
  • Shaldeswell 1301 Ch 1316,1428 FA
  • Saldewella 1209–18 WellsR
  • Saldewell' 1220,1242–3 Fees
  • Saudewella 1221 Bract
  • Saudewalle, Saundewelle 1222 Bract
  • Schaudewella 1224 FF
  • Shaudewella 1232 Bract
  • Scheldewell' 1254–5 RH
  • Seldeswelle 1278–9 RH
  • Seldeswell 1284–5 FA
  • Shaldewelle 1285 Ass
  • Shaldewell 1327 Ch
  • Shadeswell 1346 FA
  • Shelleswell 1428 FA 1517 DInc
  • Shelliswelle 1526 LS
  • Sceldeshlaw c. 1250 Bodl
  • Saldesmer c. 1270 (13th) Os

Etymology

Second element w(i)elle. The earliest forms suggest that the first is the personal name Sc (i )eld , on which v. PN Wo 77. There must, however, have been later confusion with the adjective sc (e )ald , 'shallow.' The same personal name is found in Sceldeshlaw c. 1250Bodl in Sydenham (v. hlāw), and may be present, with the same confusion with sc (e )ald , in Saldesmer c. 1270 (13th) Os in the nearby parish of Mixbury.

Places in the same Parish