Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Scadeuuelle 1086 DB

• Scadewell' 1166 P

• Siaddewella 12 Font

• Siadwell 1198 Fount

• Sedewell(e) 1160–95 YCh c.1200 Kirkst

• Sadeswelle 1191 P

• Sadewell(e) l.12,1219 Kirkst 1213 FF

• S(c)hadwell(e) 1190–1220 YCh 1292 MinAcct 1294 Ch 1316 Vill 1333 ADii 1641 Rates

• S(c)hadewell(e) 1214 Abbr 1220 Cur 1240 FF 1285 KI 1287 Bodl24 1303 Aid 1592 WRC

Etymology

On topographical grounds the first el. is unlikely to be OE  scēad 'boundary' as the name seems to refer to the spring on the south side of the village and there is now no boundary in the vicinity. The name must therefore mean 'spring in a shady place', v. sceadu , wella . The spellings with initial S -, Si - for Sh - are AN.