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Shiels Family History

Shiels Surname Meaning

Scottish (Midlothian) and Irish: variant of Shields.

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 Shiels family from?

You can see how Shiels families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shiels family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Shiels families were found in and Scotland in 1841. In 1891 there were 55 Shiels families living in Lancashire. This was about 26% of all the recorded Shiels's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Shiels families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shiels 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 Shiels 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 Shiels. 30% of Shiels men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Shiels women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shiels were General Labourer Coal and Cook.

View Census Data for Shiels | 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
    30%
  • Carpenter
    12%
  • Foreman Painter
    12%
  • General Labourer Coal
    12%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Domestic Servant
    5%
  • Cook
    3%

What Shiels family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Shiels. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shiels census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shiels

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Shiels. 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 Shiels immigration records

Draft Cards

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

View all Shiels military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shiels family history

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What is the average Shiels lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Shiels life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1957, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Shiels in 1957 was 39, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shiels

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Shiels 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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