OF ANGLO-SAXON DERIVATION. 161 



— set, sete, side : A.S. sret, (es, masc), a settler, an inhabitant, 

 more frequently used in the plural in Anglo-Saxon compounds, 

 as Somerstetas, Dorsoetas, the settlers in Somersetshire and Dorset- 

 shire, and thence those shires themselves. (We find also in A.S. 

 saet, set, (es, masc.,) a station, a camp; and in Old-Norse setr 

 (neut.) a seat or dwelling.) From this origin are derived those 

 names of houses and hamlets which now terminate in side, more 

 properly seide, as Hartseide, Sunnyseide. In Domesday Book^ 

 Boldon Booh, the Pipe Roll, and other early authorities and 

 muniments, this whole class of names is found with the ending 

 set or sete; and it is much to be regretted that so expressive a 

 term should have become effete, and should have assumed a 

 different form. One only instance do I at this moment recollect 

 in our northern district where the original word has been retained, 

 and this is Conset, near Shotley Bridge. Only since the place 

 has become populous has it begun to be written Conside; whereas 

 it is strictly in analogy with Dorset, h'omerset. 



Set, or sete, in old documents, (and side in modern spelling,) 

 is often found in connection with patronymics or family names. 

 To this class, I doubt not, are to be referred Bebside, Hartside, 

 Hasleyside, HoUinside, Gibside,Sunnyside; from the Anglo-Saxon 

 families, the B8ebingas,Heartingas, Haslingas, Hollingas,Gipingas, 

 Sunningas ; (See Kemhles Saxons in England). To which I may 

 add Simondside, from the personal name Sigmund or Simond. It 

 is very desirable that this termination side should be known and 

 acknowledged, as equivalent to seat or settlement, except in the 

 instances where it is connected with the name of a river, as 

 Tyneside, Tweedside. 



Shield, shiel, and in Scotland shieling : A.S. scyldan, to protect, 

 whence scyld (es, masc.) a shield, or protection : in this last sense 

 the Old-Norse has skiol, (neut.,) which also signifies refuge, or place 

 of retreat. It occurs in names assigned chiefly to small groups 

 of dwellings, of the humblest kind, often situated on the moors 

 or moor edges, such as Linshiels, Blackshields, Espershield, 

 Gairshield, Bruntshield. The idea conveyed is that of shield 

 or shelter from weather, and it is not improbable that originally 

 the shields were only temporary huts of herdsmen and shep- 



