Sheffield’s many nicknames - from Black Sheffield to England's largest village

By David Kessen

Published 9th Jul 2023, 04:40 BST

Sheffield is one the biggest cities in the UK – and that brings a selection of nicknames for the place.

Some nicknames we gave ourselves, others were given to us by others or social commentators. Some are affectionate, used to highlight some of this city’s greatest achievements, and others less so.

Before it was known by any of these names, or even Sheffield itself, the city was known as Escafeld, the name used for what is now the city when it was an Anglo-Saxon village, at the time of Domesday Book in 1086.

Since then it has gone on to pick up a liberal helping of nicknames, and here are eight of the better known ones – and one we think should be added.

We've put together a gallery of the nicknames Sheffield is known by, with nine listed here.

1. Nine nicknames for Sheffield

We've put together a gallery of the nicknames Sheffield is known by, with nine listed here. Photo: Chris Etchells

Long before clean air laws, writing in 1830, the author William Cobbett wrote in Rural Rides: “It was dark before we reached Sheffield; so that we saw the iron furnaces, in all the horrible splendour of their everlasting blaze. Nothing can be conceived more grand or more terrific than the yellow waves of fire, that incessantly issue from the top of these furnaces, some of which are close by the way-side. “This Sheffield, and the land all about it, is one bed of iron and coal. They call it Black Sheffield, and black enough it is; but from this one town and its environs go nine-tenths of the knives that are used in the whole world; there being.”

2. Black Sheffield

Long before clean air laws, writing in 1830, the author William Cobbett wrote in Rural Rides: “It was dark before we reached Sheffield; so that we saw the iron furnaces, in all the horrible splendour of their everlasting blaze. Nothing can be conceived more grand or more terrific than the yellow waves of fire, that incessantly issue from the top of these furnaces, some of which are close by the way-side. “This Sheffield, and the land all about it, is one bed of iron and coal. They call it Black Sheffield, and black enough it is; but from this one town and its environs go nine-tenths of the knives that are used in the whole world; there being.” Photo: PIcture from Images of Sheffield, published by Sheffield Newspapers, 1993

With its history of steelmaking, home of some of the processes that transformed the industry, Sheffield has been handed an often used nickname of the Steel City, having been home to some of the biggest steel works in the 19th and 20th century, and with production still continuing here to this day.

3. Steel City

With its history of steelmaking, home of some of the processes that transformed the industry, Sheffield has been handed an often used nickname of the Steel City, having been home to some of the biggest steel works in the 19th and 20th century, and with production still continuing here to this day. Photo: Dean Atkins

It's straightforward and obvious – the quick abbreviation of the name of our city. It’s frequently used by people from other towns just outside Sheffield to describe the city, as well as residents, for example, “I’m going into Sheff tomorrow.”

4. Sheff

It's straightforward and obvious – the quick abbreviation of the name of our city. It’s frequently used by people from other towns just outside Sheffield to describe the city, as well as residents, for example, “I’m going into Sheff tomorrow.” Photo: Chris Etchells