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Sheffield Family History

Sheffield Surname Meaning

English: habitational name principally from Sheffield (Yorkshire) but perhaps also from Sheffield Bottom in Burghfield (Berkshire) or Sheffield Park in Fletching (Sussex). The Yorkshire place takes its name from the river Sheaf itself from Old English scēath ‘boundary’ + Old English feld ‘open country’ while the Berkshire placename derives from Old English scēo ‘shelter’ + feld.

The Sussex placename comes from Old English scēap ‘sheep’ + feld.

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 Sheffield family from?

You can see how Sheffield families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sheffield family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Sheffield families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 322 Sheffield families living in London. This was about 19% of all the recorded Sheffield's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Sheffield families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sheffield 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 Sheffield 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 Sheffield. 11% of Sheffield men worked as a General Labourer and 70% of Sheffield women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sheffield were Motor Driver and Housewife.

View Census Data for Sheffield | 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
    11%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    7%
  • Incapacitated
    6%
  • Motor Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Sheffield family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 97,000 census records available for the last name Sheffield. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sheffield census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Sheffield

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Sheffield. 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 Sheffield immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 19,000 military records available for the last name Sheffield. For the veterans among your Sheffield ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sheffield military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sheffield family history

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What is the average Sheffield lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Sheffield life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1940, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Sheffield in 1940 was 30, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sheffield

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

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