Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Scelmer(e)s(h)erg(h), Skelmer(e)s(h)erg(h), -herhe l.12 Kend 13 Rydal 1216–72 Kendi,251 1279 Ass2d,8 1281 FF 1296 Kendi,251

• Skelmersharthe 1550 Views

• Schelmergha 13 ADiv

• Skelmesherch 1256 Ass6

• Skelmeshergh 1292 ib

• Skelmesergh(e) 1301 Ch 1330 LowthBr41 1567 RichWill

• Skelmeser(e) 1292 Ass 1296 Kendi,252 1370 Ipm

• Skelmessergh 1222–46 Kendi,6

• Skelmessar 1506 Pat

• Skelmesser 1523 Kendi,241

• Skelmushergh 1332 SR

• Skelmesawre 1524 NCWills

• Skelmiser 1361 Cl

• Skelmyserghe 1580 FF

• Skelmerssh(e) 1375 Ipm 1401 Cl

• Schelesmergha 14 AD(E.40)

• Skelmser 1504–15 ECP 1539 FF 1548 RichWill

• Skelmsergh 1597 NCWills

• Skelsmer 1525 Kendi,364 1580 PR(K) 1618 et freq

• Skelsmergh 1558,1614 1777 M

• Skellymser 1556 Kendi,91

• Skellymsergh 1589 Comm

• Skellesmere 1589 Comm 1605 Lease 1612 Dep

Etymology

'Skjaldmar's dairy farm', v. erg . The pers.n. is an unrecorded ON  *Skjaldmarr , which is found only in p.ns. Skelmanthorpe (YW ii, 221), Skelmersdale (La 122), Scelmarethweit (i, 46supra ), and an unidentified We Skelmereschal 1279Ass 23 (cf. FeilitzenPS 59).