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.

Shelford Ho

Early-attested site in the Parish of Burton Hastings

Historical Forms

  • Sireford t.Hy2 BM
  • Scireford 1206 FF
  • S(c)hireford 13th Combe 1221 FF 1312 Ipm
  • Shirford 1221 Ass 1725 B
  • Shereford 1436 IpmR 1508 FF
  • Shereford al. Shelford 1564 ib
  • Shelford al. Sherford 1722 Recov
  • Sherford 1789 Cary
  • Shelford c.1830 O.S.

Etymology

Originally 'clear ford,' v. scir . The later development is unique. “This place may seem to have taken its name from the Forde or Passage over that little Torrent, which runs on the West part thereof towards Nuneaton , as the map will show; shire signifying clear and in that sense we still use the word upon some occasions” (Dugdale 36).

Places in the same Parish

Other OS name

Major Settlement