[1] It lies in the Wilford Hundred, about four and a half miles south-east of Woodbridge, between the parishes of Sutton, Alderton, Ramsholt and Hollesley, in the Bawdsey peninsula.

About three miles from the coast at Hollesley Bay and Shingle Street, the village street overlooks a slight hollow of meads and copses at the road crossing of Shottisham Creek, a tributary brook of the river Deben.

[3] The earliest history of Shottisham is recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book and is described as being located in the Wilford Hundred.

Shottisham had 24 households which was quite large compared to other nearby village parishes, containing 1 smallholder and 15 free men.

[4] St Margaret's, the medieval parish church, which has a square tower holding a single bell, was restored in 1845.

[8] Occupational statistics from Census data show that in 1831 just over 60% of residents were employed as agricultural labourers.

The church is dedicated to Saint Margaret of Antioch; the pub is named The Sorrel Horse.

According to the 2011 census data for Shottisham the highest three employment sectors are Primary education with 14%, Human health and Social work activities with 9.5%, and wholesale and retail trade and repair of motor vehicles with 11%.