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.

Sherston

Major Settlement in the Parish of Sherston

Historical Forms

  • Scorranstan 896 BCS574 11th
  • Scorastan 11th EncomiumEmmae
  • Scorstan 1016 ASC 11th
  • Sceorstan 1016 ASC c.1150
  • Sorstain 1086 DB
  • Sorestan 1142–54 France
  • Scorestan 1167 P 1206 ClR
  • Sorestane c.1200 HMCVari 1204 ClR
  • Sorestone 1086 DB
  • Scoreston 1236 Fees
  • Shoreston 1245 Ipm
  • Sarestan' 1215 ClR
  • Shorestan 1236 Cl 1237 Ch 1245 Misc
  • Schorestan 1237 Pat
  • Schorstane 1268 Ass
  • Scherstan 1258 Ass
  • Scerstan 1292 Rental
  • Sherstan 1305 Pat
  • Scherston 1291 Tax
  • Scerston 1293 FF
  • Sherston 1316 FA
  • Sharston 1335 Cl
  • Shareston 1337 ib
  • Great Shaston 1558–79 ECP
  • Sharson Magna 1598 FF
  • Shireston Magna 1693 Sadler

Etymology

The first element is probably the OE  word *scora , found in Shoreham (PN Sx 246) meaning perhaps 'steep slope or declivity.' The second element is stan, 'stone, rock.' It is not certain that the first form refers to this place but the probabilities are that it does. If so, it is an irregular one. The form sceorstan shows West Saxon sceo for sco as in sceort for scort (Bülbring § 303). This form ultimately prevailed and yields later Sherston , Sharston .