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Shefford Family History

Shefford Surname Meaning

From East or Great Shefford (Berks) recorded as Siford in 1086 and Schipforda in 1167 or Shefford (Beds) which is recorded as Shipford in 1229.

The place-names derive from Old English scēap ‘sheep’ + ford ‘shallow place by which water can be crossed ford’.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Shefford family from?

You can see how Shefford families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shefford family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Shefford families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 39 Shefford families living in Wiltshire. This was about 26% of all the recorded Shefford's in United Kingdom. Wiltshire had the highest population of Shefford families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shefford 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 Shefford ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Shefford. 72% of Shefford men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Shefford women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shefford were Grocery Wines Dealer Etc and Old Age Pensioner.

View Census Data for Shefford | 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.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    72%
  • Grocery Wines Dealer Etc
    29%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Retired
    3%
  • Old Age Pensioner
    3%

What Shefford family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Shefford. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shefford census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shefford

Passenger Lists

There are 553 immigration records available for the last name Shefford. 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 Shefford immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 806 military records available for the last name Shefford. For the veterans among your Shefford ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shefford military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shefford family history

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What is the average Shefford lifespan?

Between 1990 and 1994, in the United States, Shefford life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1994, and highest in 1990. The average life expectancy for Shefford in 1990 was 80, and 72 in 1994.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shefford

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Shefford 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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