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 Shales family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Shales Family History

Shales Surname Meaning

English: perhaps a nickname from an unrecorded Middle English shail ‘crooked gait shuffling’ (attested in the adverb ashayle 1530) derived from Middle English shailen ‘to stumble shuffle’ and probably related to shailard (see Shaler).

Variant of Seal from Netherseal or Overseal (Derbyshire) recorded in medieval records as Seyle and Scheyle.

Perhaps a variant of Sale with a palatalized pronunciation of initial S- as Sh-.

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 Shales family from?

You can see how Shales families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shales family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Shales families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 41 Shales families living in London. This was about 26% of all the recorded Shales's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Shales families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shales 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 Shales ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Commercial Traveller and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Shales. 100% of Shales men worked as a Commercial Traveller and 84% of Shales women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Shales | 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

  • Commercial Traveller
    100%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    84%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    7%
  • Domestic Duties
    5%
  • Private Means
    5%

What Shales family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 6,000 census records available for the last name Shales. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shales census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shales

Passenger Lists

There are 643 immigration records available for the last name Shales. 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 Shales immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 677 military records available for the last name Shales. For the veterans among your Shales ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shales military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shales family history

Discover More

What is the average Shales lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Shales life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1975, and highest in 1986. The average life expectancy for Shales in 1962 was 69, and 82 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shales

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

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