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Shelter Family History

Shelter Surname Meaning

Americanized form of German Schelter a nickname from Middle High German scheltære.

It translates to ‘scolder’ or ‘criticizer’.

Additionally, it can mean ‘slanderer’ or ‘traveling singer’.

This name reflects a rich linguistic heritage.

Its origins highlight the blending of cultures in America.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Shelter family from?

You can see how Shelter families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shelter family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Shelter families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 15 Shelter families living in Staffordshire. This was about 38% of all the recorded Shelter's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire had the highest population of Shelter families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shelter 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 Shelter ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Shelter. 100% of Shelter women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Shelter | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    100%

What Shelter family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Shelter

Passenger Lists

There are 194 immigration records available for the last name Shelter. 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 Shelter immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Shelter military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shelter family history

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What is the average Shelter lifespan?

Between 1958 and 2003, in the United States, Shelter life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Shelter in 1958 was 55, and 68 in 2003.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shelter

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Shelter 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Shelter family tree

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