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Shelford Family History

Shelford Surname Meaning

Primarily from Great and Little Shelford (Cambs) recorded as Scheldford in 1109–33 but also from Shelford (Notts) which is recorded as Sceldford in about 1160 and perhaps occasionally from Shelford in Burton Hastings (Warwicks) which is recorded as Scireford in 1206 or Shallow Bridge in Beauchamp Roding (Essex) which is recorded as Schele(f)ford in 126.

The Cambs and Notts place-names derive from Old English *sceldu ‘shallow place’ + ford ‘shallow place by which water can be crossed’. The Warwicks place-name derives from Old English scīr ‘bright clear’ + ford.

The Essex place-name derives from an Old English river-name *Sceolge ‘the winding one’ (related to Old English sceolh ‘twisted awry squinting’) + ford.

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


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Where is the Shelford family from?

You can see how Shelford families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shelford family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Shelford families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 108 Shelford families living in London. This was about 33% of all the recorded Shelford's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Shelford families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shelford 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 Shelford 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 Shelford. 28% of Shelford men worked as a General Labourer and 81% of Shelford women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shelford were General Labourer Light Work and Wife Of Naval Officer (private Means).

View Census Data for Shelford | 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
    28%
  • Club Steward
    19%
  • Postman
    19%
  • General Labourer Light Work
    19%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • None
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Wife Of Naval Officer (private Means)
    3%

What Shelford family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 8,000 census records available for the last name Shelford. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shelford census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shelford

Passenger Lists

There are 43,000 immigration records available for the last name Shelford. 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 Shelford immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 549 military records available for the last name Shelford. For the veterans among your Shelford ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shelford military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shelford family history

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What is the average Shelford lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Shelford life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1991, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Shelford in 1963 was 81, and 52 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shelford

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Shelford 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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