This ancient name was originally locational and was first recorded as a place name in 1044 and later in the 1086 Domesday Book. The original spelling was "Scelftone" which translates as "the Farm by the Race Course" from Olde English "Tun" (a farm) and Norse- Viking "Skeid" (a race course). Later spellings were Selton (1169) and "Shilftun", the latter referring to the Berkshire Village in 1242. The surname is spelt Shilton, Chilton, Shefton, Shieldon and Shiliton but all have the same origins, Ann Shelton being recorded in 1591 at Deerhurst whilst Sabera Shilton was baptised at Nympesfield on 20th September 1795. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Isabel Shilton. which was dated 1591, who married John Hemming at Westbury on Severn. during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as Good Queen Bess, 1558 - 1603. 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.

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