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Shafto Family History

Shafto Surname Meaning

English (northern): habitational name from East and West Shaftoe in Hartburn (Northumberland) probably from Old English sceaft ‘shaft pole’.

It is derived from the combination of two elements: sceaft, meaning ‘shaft’, and hōh, meaning ‘heel’ or ‘spur of land’.

The name reflects the geographical features of the area where it originated.

This type of naming convention is common in Northern England, where locations are often identified by distinctive landmarks.

Understanding the etymology of such names provides insight into the history and culture of the region.

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


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Where is the Shafto family from?

You can see how Shafto families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shafto family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Shafto families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 46 Shafto families living in Norfolk. This was about 32% of all the recorded Shafto's in United Kingdom. Norfolk had the highest population of Shafto families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shafto 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 Shafto 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 Shafto. 100% of Shafto men worked as a General Labourer and 83% of Shafto women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Shafto | 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
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    83%
  • Domestic Duties
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Household Duties (unpaid)
    5%

What Shafto family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 3,000 census records available for the last name Shafto. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shafto census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shafto

Passenger Lists

There are 342 immigration records available for the last name Shafto. 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 Shafto immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 385 military records available for the last name Shafto. For the veterans among your Shafto ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shafto military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shafto family history

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What is the average Shafto lifespan?

Between 1965 and 2004, in the United States, Shafto life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1977, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Shafto in 1965 was 77, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shafto

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

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