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Sheaf Family History

Sheaf Surname Meaning

English (southern): nickname from Middle English shefe ‘sheaf bundle’ (Old English scēaf).

Hence possibly a name for a harvest worker or for someone who paid or collected tithes.

From the same term in the sense ‘proportion of produce paid as a tithe’.

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


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Sheaf family from?

You can see how Sheaf families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sheaf family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Sheaf families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 39 Sheaf families living in Hampshire. This was about 23% of all the recorded Sheaf's in United Kingdom. Hampshire had the highest population of Sheaf families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sheaf 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 Sheaf 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 Sheaf. 43% of Sheaf men worked as a General Labourer and 91% of Sheaf women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sheaf were Farmer Heavy Worker and Companion Help.

View Census Data for Sheaf | 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
    43%
  • Builders Labourer
    29%
  • Farmer Heavy Worker
    29%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    91%
  • Coat Machinist
    4%
  • Hat Domestic Machinis
    4%
  • Companion Help
    4%

What Sheaf family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Sheaf

Passenger Lists

There are 346 immigration records available for the last name Sheaf. 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 Sheaf immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 447 military records available for the last name Sheaf. For the veterans among your Sheaf ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sheaf military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sheaf family history

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What is the average Sheaf lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2002, in the United States, Sheaf life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1983, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Sheaf in 1959 was 64, and 85 in 2002.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sheaf

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Sheaf 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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