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.

Shoulton

Early-attested site in the Parish of Hallow

Historical Forms

  • Selgeton c.1220 WoC c.1240 c.1250 ib
  • Scolegeton c.1220 WoC c.1240 c.1250 ib
  • Soultone 1327 SR
  • Shelton 1518 More
  • Shewton, Shelton 1571 Wills
  • Shoulton 1649 Surv

Etymology

The first element in this name is OE  sceolh, 'awry, twisted.'The exact significance of this element as applied to tun is not clear. The cognate German scheel is also used in the sense 'sloping, slanting.' This would describe the site of Shoulton.For its use in place-names, cf. Förstemann (PN 771) who gives examples of it compounded with flet , husen , horn and dorf .