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Sheilds Family History

Sheilds Surname Meaning

English and Scottish: variant of Shields.

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 Sheilds family from?

You can see how Sheilds families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sheilds family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Sheilds families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 43 Sheilds families living in Lancashire. This was about 26% of all the recorded Sheilds's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Sheilds families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sheilds 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 Sheilds ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Sheilds. 28% of Sheilds men worked as a Builders Labourer and 77% of Sheilds women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sheilds were Barman and Capstan Lathe Hand.

View Census Data for Sheilds | 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

  • Builders Labourer
    28%
  • Railway Porter
    19%
  • Boot Repairer
    19%
  • Barman
    19%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Private Means
    6%
  • Domestic Duties
    4%
  • Capstan Lathe Hand
    4%

What Sheilds family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 20,000 census records available for the last name Sheilds. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sheilds census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Sheilds

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Sheilds. 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 Sheilds immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Sheilds. For the veterans among your Sheilds ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sheilds military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sheilds family history

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What is the average Sheilds lifespan?

Between 1966 and 2004, in the United States, Sheilds life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1980, and highest in 1987. The average life expectancy for Sheilds in 1966 was 81, and 65 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sheilds

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Sheilds 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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