This interesting and unusual name has two possible sources. The first is as a metonymic occupational name, given to a man who made and or sold chains or fetters, "shackles", from the Olde English pre 7th cnetury "sceacol", Middle English "Schackel" meaning chain or bond. The second possible source is from the medieval personal name "Schackel", which is the anglicized form of the Olde Norse "Skokull" a byname (distingusihing name) meaning "wagon-pole" and therefore probably used as a nickname for a tall, thin man. The name development has included William Shakelle (1379, Yorkshire) and Jane Shackle (1597). In the modern idiom the surname can be spelt Shackell, Shackel, Shackle and Skakle. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert Scakel. which was dated circa 1170, Documents of the Danelaw. Lincolnshire. during the reign of King Henry 11, known as the Builder of Churches 1154 - 1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.