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Shapley Family History

Shapley Name Meaning

English (Devon): habitational name from Shapley in Chagford (Devon) or Shapley in North Bovey (Devon) both from Old English scēap ‘sheep’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’.

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


Similar surnames: Shatley, Shipley, Shepley, Stapley, Sharpley, Chipley, Tapley, Hanley

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Shapley family from?

You can see how Shapley families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shapley family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Shapley families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 120 Shapley families living in Devon. This was about 40% of all the recorded Shapley's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Shapley families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shapley surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Shapley ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Plumber and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Shapley. 50% of Shapley men worked as a Plumber and 75% of Shapley women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shapley were Instrument Maker and Incapacitated. .

View Census Data for Shapley | 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

  • Plumber
    50%
  • Instrument Maker
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Domestic Duties
    5%
  • Confectioner Retired
    4%
  • Incapacitated
    4%
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What Shapley family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 10,000 census records available for the last name Shapley. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shapley census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shapley

Passenger Lists

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

Draft Cards

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

View all Shapley military records

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What is the average Shapley lifespan?

Between 1957 and 2004, in the United States, Shapley life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1971, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Shapley in 1957 was 54, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shapley

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