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 Sheils family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Sheils Family History

Sheils Surname Meaning

Scottish (Midlothian and Lanarkshire) and English: variant of Shields. Irish: variant of Shiel with excrescent -s.

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 Sheils family from?

You can see how Sheils families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sheils family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Sheils families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 33 Sheils families living in Lancashire. This was about 58% of all the recorded Sheils's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Sheils families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sheils surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Sheils 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 Sheils. 72% of Sheils men worked as a General Labourer and 91% of Sheils women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sheils were Builders Labourer and Laundress.

View Census Data for Sheils | 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
    72%
  • Builders Labourer
    29%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    91%
  • Laundress
    10%

What Sheils family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Sheils. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sheils census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Sheils

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Sheils. 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 Sheils immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 641 military records available for the last name Sheils. For the veterans among your Sheils ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sheils military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sheils family history

Discover More

What is the average Sheils lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2003, in the United States, Sheils life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1985, and highest in 1991. The average life expectancy for Sheils in 1963 was 74, and 79 in 2003.

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

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