Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Olescel, Oleslec 1086 DB

• Ulfskelf(f) 1170–7 YCh 1235 FF 1301 Ch 1366 Test 1428 DiocV

• Ulfscelf 1226 FF

• Ulveskelfe 1455 YDii

• Vlfschelf 1188 RegAlbii,97d

• Ulschelf 1195 ib

• Uleschelf c.1291 Tax

• Ulskelf(e), Vlskelf(e) 1177 HCY 1267 Ebor c.1295 Ext 1298 Hom 14 Sawl192 1641 Rates

• Hulskelf 1515 FF

• Ulleskelf(e) 1284 Baild 1539 NCWills 1655 WillS

• Hulleskelfe 1298 Ebor

• Uskelf c.1362 Works 1473 Pat

• Uskell 1504 ADiii 1546 YChant 1554 FF

Etymology

'Ulf's shelf of land or bank', from the ON  pers.n. Ulfr and a Scandinavianised form of OE  scelf 'shelving terrain' or possibly ON  skjalf 'shelf, seat', which is very rare; the el. skelf occurs in YN p.ns. like Hinderskelfe or Raskelf. The 'shelf' in Ulleskelf is doubtless the land rising from the R. Wharfe.