From where the name Sheffield originated

[So Cal Girl]

Many many years ago, I was taught it meant "open space by the River Sheaf" (but never thought about where the name of the river came from!)

[madpoet]

Hi,

 

Anyone knows from where the name Sheffield came from?

 

Hi madpoet here - learnt at school that Escafeld was original ? Norse/Saxon name of Sheffield ,later called Sheaf field . Suggest Library for history details.

[lazarus]

A lot of you are missing out an important event, 1066 and the subsequent Magna Carta. When William took hold of England he ordered a stock check of what he had won throught the Battle of Hastings so he sent assesors round the country with scribes, all the assesors & scribes were French, so a lot of place names were written down as heard not what the real name was, so Escafeld sounded like Sheffeld to the french. This is what I was taught in my further education about the history of Sheffield.

It may not be true but who can say.

Edited August 17, 2012 by lazarus

[Joanl]

I always believed it was down to the River Sheaf that ran through the Field.

[grinder]

Perhaps your all right,

 

ESCAFELD, A Clearing at the crossing of a boundary river.

The Normans build a castle there and their pronunciation of the name is Sheffield.

A small town develops around the castle, which is naturally called Sheffield town..

The town becomes the centre of the area and later becomes a city.

Edited August 17, 2012 by grinder

[lbraeley]

Fascinating!