Shearer Family History

Shearer Surname Meaning

Scottish and English: occupational name for a reaper of standing crops, a sheep shearer, or someone who used shears to trim the surface of finished cloth and remove excessive nap. This term originates from Middle English sherer(e) ‘shearer’, which is an agent derivative of Middle English schere(n) ‘to shear’.

Middle English schere denoted shears and scissors of all sizes, highlighting the various applications of shearing tools in different contexts. This wide usage illustrates the importance of these tools in agricultural and textile practices.

Compare Sherman, which reflects a similar occupational derivation with a focus on the crafting or handling of materials. The connection between names and professions denotes a shared cultural and historical significance in these occupations.

Additionally, the Americanized form of German or Jewish (Ashkenazic) names like Scherer or Scherrer also connect to the same occupational roots, indicating the widespread influence of these trades across cultures.

Further variations include the Americanized form of German Scheurer, showcasing the evolving nature of surnames as they adapt to new languages and environments.

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

Similar surnames: Sherer, Sharer, Seader, Shirer, Scheerer, Scheurer, Theurer, Seager, Shaler, Shecter

167K	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
23K	Military Records
17K	Immigration Records
144K	Census and Voter Lists
392K	Member Trees

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Where is the Shearer family from?

You can see how Shearer families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shearer family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Shearer families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 165 Shearer families living in Lancashire. This was about 28% of all the recorded Shearer's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Shearer families in 1891.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shearer surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Shearer

What did your Shearer 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 Shearer. 19% of Shearer men worked as a General labourer and 77% of Shearer women worked as an Unpaid domestic duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shearer were Bank clerk and Domestic servant.

View Census Data for Shearer

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.

General labourer

19%

Builders labourer

dock labourer mc ship canal heavy worker

Bank clerk

Unpaid domestic duties

77%

Unpaid domestic

Private means

Domestic servant

What Shearer family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 144K census records available for the last name Shearer. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shearer census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shearer

Passenger List

There are 17K immigration records available for the last name Shearer. 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 Shearer immigration records

Military Records

There are 23K military records available for the last name Shearer. For the veterans among your Shearer ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shearer military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shearer family history

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What is the average Shearer lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Shearer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Shearer in 1940 was 67, and 79 in 2004.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Shearer family tree

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Shearer Surname Meaning

Further variations include the Americanized form of German Scheurer, showcasing the evolving nature of surnames as they adapt to new languages and environments.

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

Where is the Shearer family from?

What did your Shearer ancestors do for a living?

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.

General labourer

19%

Builders labourer

dock labourer mc ship canal heavy worker

Bank clerk

Unpaid domestic duties

77%

Unpaid domestic

Private means

Domestic servant

What Shearer family records will you find?

What is the average Shearer lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Shearer life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Shearer in 1940 was 67, and 79 in 2004.

Shearer Family History

Shearer Surname Meaning

746,000 record(s) for Shearer

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

Where is the Shearer family from?

What did your Shearer ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Shearer family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Shearer family history

What is the average Shearer lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Shearer family tree

Search for another surname

Shearer Surname Meaning

746,000 record(s) for Shearer

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

Where is the Shearer family from?

What did your Shearer ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Shearer family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Shearer family history

What is the average Shearer lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Shearer family tree

Search for another surname