Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Sceptun, Sceptone 1086 DB

• Scafton(a), Scaftun 1155–70 YCh1533–4 1170–85 13 Nost62d 1230 P

• Schafton(a) 12 Brett 1165–80 YCh 13 ADi 1379 PT

• Shafton l.13 Arm 1345 FF 1428 YDx 1586 WillY

Etymology

'Farmstead marked by a pole' or possibly 'one made of poles', v. sceaft , tūn . Names of this type are difficult to interpret exactly, and similar ambiguity exists with p.ns. such as Rounton YN 217, Stapleton ii, 65infra (cf. EPN i, 266, ii, 146, s.v. hrung , stapol , etc.).