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Shilston Family History

Shilston Surname Meaning

From one or more of six places in Devon called Shilston or Shilstone in Bishops Tawton, Chittlehampton, Drewsteignton, Exbourne, Modbury, and Throwleigh parishes.

The place-names probably all derive from Old English scelf scylf ‘rock ledge shelf’ + stān ‘stone rock’.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Shilston family from?

You can see how Shilston families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shilston family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Shilston families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 55 Shilston families living in Devon. This was about 47% of all the recorded Shilston's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Shilston families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shilston 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 Shilston ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Shilston. 89% of Shilston women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Shilston | 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 Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    89%
  • Private Means
    6%
  • Domestic Servant
    6%

What Shilston family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Shilston. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shilston census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shilston

Passenger Lists

There are 6,000 immigration records available for the last name Shilston. 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 Shilston immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 264 military records available for the last name Shilston. For the veterans among your Shilston ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shilston military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shilston family history

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What is the average Shilston lifespan?

Between 1972 and 2004, in the United States, Shilston life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1978, and highest in 2000. The average life expectancy for Shilston in 1972 was 79, and 91 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shilston

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Shilston 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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