Shovelton

This unusual name is a Transposition, either from the Olde Lancashire locational name Shuflebotham, a pre medieval parish near Bury, or a a variant of Shetton, towns found in Durham and North Wales, whose, origins were the Olde English 'Shute-Tun', - the Farm of the Archer. In victorian times, great play was made on the look of names, certain names like, 'Shufflebotham' which is an ancient and honourable name, were changed to more suitable spellings. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Shippobotam. which was dated 1582, Married at Prestbury, Cheshire. during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, 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.