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.

Shelfield

Early-attested site in the Parish of Aston Cantlow

Historical Forms

  • Shelfhulle 1221 Ass 1313 Ipm 1397 Cl 1436 IpmR
  • Schelf- 13th Winchcombe 1262 FF 1322 BM
  • Scelefhull 1328 Ch
  • Shelfeld 1547 Monast 1602 PCC
  • Shelfylde 1547 Ct
  • Sheffeild 1623 Recov
  • Shelfhull 1656 Dugdale 1725 B

Etymology

Shelfield is Shelfhulle 1221Ass (p), 1313 Ipm, 1397 Cl, 1436 IpmR, Schelf -13th Winchcombe, 1262 FF, 1322 BM, Scelefhull 1328 Ch, Shelfeld 1547 Monast, 1602 PCC, Shelfylde 1547Ct , Sheffeild 1623Recov , Shelfhull 1656 Dugdale, 1725 B.'Shelf hill,' v. scylf , hyll . The place extends along the side of a hill which slopes from 400 to 200 feet with an average gradient of 1 in 40.