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O Shields Family History

O Shields Surname Meaning

Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). Many of the modern surnames in the dictionary can be traced back to Britain and Ireland.


Similar surnames: Shields, Deshields, O'shields, Shield, Fields, Schield, Michiels

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the O Shields family from?

You can see how O Shields families moved over time by selecting different census years. The O Shields family name was found in the USA between 1880 and 1920. The most O Shields families were found in USA in 1880. In 1880 there were 7 O Shields families living in South Carolina. This was about 41% of all the recorded O Shields's in USA. South Carolina had the highest population of O Shields families in 1880.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the O Shields surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your O Shields ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named O Shields. 33% of O Shields men worked as a Farmer and 25% of O Shields women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named O Shields were Salesman and Laborer.

View Census Data for O Shields | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    33%
  • Laborer
    24%
  • Farming
    10%
  • Salesman
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Stenographer
    25%
  • Housekeeper
    19%
  • Seamstress
    19%
  • Laborer
    13%

What O Shields family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name O Shields. Like a window into their day-to-day life, O Shields census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for O Shields

Passenger Lists

There are 642 immigration records available for the last name O Shields. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all O Shields immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name O Shields. For the veterans among your O Shields ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all O Shields military records

You've only scratched the surface of O Shields family history

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What is the average O Shields lifespan?

Between 1990 and 1999, in the United States, O Shields life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1997, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for O Shields in 1990 was 52, and 53 in 1999.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for O Shields

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your O Shields ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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