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Sheppard Family History

Sheppard Surname Meaning

English: variant of Shepherd.

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 Sheppard family from?

You can see how Sheppard families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sheppard family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Sheppard families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 2,164 Sheppard families living in London. This was about 21% of all the recorded Sheppard's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Sheppard families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sheppard 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 Sheppard 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 Sheppard. 8% of Sheppard men worked as a General Labourer and 66% of Sheppard women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sheppard were Cowman and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Sheppard | 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
    8%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Cowman
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    66%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    2%

What Sheppard family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 368,000 census records available for the last name Sheppard. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sheppard census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Sheppard

Passenger Lists

There are 33,000 immigration records available for the last name Sheppard. 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 Sheppard immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 49,000 military records available for the last name Sheppard. For the veterans among your Sheppard ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sheppard military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sheppard family history

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What is the average Sheppard lifespan?

Between 1942 and 2004, in the United States, Sheppard life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1949, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Sheppard in 1942 was 33, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sheppard

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Sheppard 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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