This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Shepherd family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Shepherd Family History

Shepherd Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire and Yorkshire): occupational name from Middle English schepeherde ‘shepherd’ (Old English scēaphyrde scēap‐weard).

Americanized form (translation into English) of surnames meaning ‘shepherd’ for example German and Jewish Schäfer (see Schaefer).

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Shepherd family from?

You can see how Shepherd families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shepherd family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Shepherd families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 3,793 Shepherd families living in Lancashire. This was about 19% of all the recorded Shepherd's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Shepherd families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shepherd surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Shepherd 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 Shepherd. 7% of Shepherd men worked as a General Labourer and 65% of Shepherd women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shepherd were Builders Labourer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Shepherd | 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
    7%
  • Bricklayer
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    65%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%

What Shepherd family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 669,000 census records available for the last name Shepherd. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shepherd census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shepherd

Passenger Lists

There are 53,000 immigration records available for the last name Shepherd. 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 Shepherd immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 74,000 military records available for the last name Shepherd. For the veterans among your Shepherd ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shepherd military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shepherd family history

Discover More

What is the average Shepherd lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Shepherd life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1941, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Shepherd in 1941 was 31, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shepherd

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Shepherd 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 Shepherd family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial