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Shenton Family History

Shenton Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Sheinton (Shropshire), Shenton (Leicestershire), or Shavington (Cheshire) recorded as Shenton in 151. The Shropshire placename probably derives from Old English scēne ‘bright, beautiful’ + tūn ‘farmstead, estate’ or perhaps from an Old English personal name Scēna + Old English connective -ing- + tūn.

The Leicestershire place takes its name from the river Sence, itself from Old English scenc ‘drink, draught’ + Old English tūn, while the Cheshire placename derives from the Old English personal name Scēafa + Old English connective -ing- + tūn.

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


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Where is the Shenton family from?

You can see how Shenton families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shenton family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Shenton families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 991 Shenton families living in Staffordshire. This was about 44% of all the recorded Shenton's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire had the highest population of Shenton families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shenton 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 Shenton 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 Shenton. 10% of Shenton men worked as a General Labourer and 67% of Shenton women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shenton were Incapacitated and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Shenton | 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
    10%
  • Bricklayer
    6%
  • Dairy Farmer
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    67%
  • Unpaid Domestic Dutie
    3%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Shenton family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 28,000 census records available for the last name Shenton. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shenton census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shenton

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Shenton. 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 Shenton immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Shenton. For the veterans among your Shenton ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shenton military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shenton family history

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What is the average Shenton lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Shenton life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1969, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Shenton in 1963 was 75, and 71 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shenton

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Shenton 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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