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Shropshire Family History

Shropshire Surname Meaning

English (Staffordshire and Shropshire): habitational name from the county of Shropshire on the western border of England with Wales, which takes its name from Shrewsbury (recorded as Scrobbesbyrig in 1016; see Shrewsbury).

The name Shrewsbury is derived from the Old English scīr, meaning ‘shire, district, county’.

This reflects the historical significance of Shropshire as a recognizable administrative region in England.

The evolution of names and places in England often highlights the rich cultural and historical tapestry of the area.

As residents of Staffordshire and Shropshire embraced their local identities, the habitational names symbolized their shared heritage.

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 Shropshire family from?

You can see how Shropshire families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shropshire family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Shropshire families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 53 Shropshire families living in Staffordshire. This was about 40% of all the recorded Shropshire's in United Kingdom. Staffordshire had the highest population of Shropshire families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shropshire 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 Shropshire ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Dairy Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Shropshire. 38% of Shropshire men worked as a Dairy Farmer and 70% of Shropshire women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shropshire were Moulder Labourer Heavy Work and Sweeper Up English Elect.

View Census Data for Shropshire | 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

  • Dairy Farmer
    38%
  • Farmer
    25%
  • Farm Labourer
    13%
  • Moulder Labourer Heavy Work
    13%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Housekeeper
    7%
  • No Occupation
    7%
  • Sweeper Up English Elect
    7%

What Shropshire family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 15,000 census records available for the last name Shropshire. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shropshire census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shropshire

Passenger Lists

There are 691 immigration records available for the last name Shropshire. 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 Shropshire immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Shropshire. For the veterans among your Shropshire ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shropshire military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shropshire family history

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What is the average Shropshire lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Shropshire life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1950, and highest in 2001. The average life expectancy for Shropshire in 1947 was 39, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shropshire

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

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