History of your Surname
Get access to Shemwell family records.Start a free trial

Shemwell Family History

Shemwell Name Meaning

English (Derbyshire and Staffordshire): clearly a habitational name from a placename meaning ‘shining stream’ (Middle English shim + well) but this has not been definitely located. There is a Shining Well in Darley Dale (Derbyshire) known from an 1836 map and the surname may derive from an earlier name for that.

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


Similar surnames: Shotwell, Sockwell, Sartwell, Bramwell, Sewell, Shadwell, Creswell

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Shemwell family from?

You can see how Shemwell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shemwell family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Shemwell families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 189 Shemwell families living in Derbyshire. This was about 61% of all the recorded Shemwell's in United Kingdom. Derbyshire had the highest population of Shemwell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shemwell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Shemwell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Builders Labourerheavy Worker and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Shemwell. 50% of Shemwell men worked as a Builders Labourerheavy Worker and 96% of Shemwell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shemwell were Dairy Farmer and Housewife. .

View Census Data for Shemwell | 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

  • Builders Labourerheavy Worker
    50%
  • Dairy Farmer
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    96%
  • Housewife
    5%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Shemwell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 5,000 census records available for the last name Shemwell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shemwell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Shemwell

Passenger Lists

There are 179 immigration records available for the last name Shemwell. 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 Shemwell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 726 military records available for the last name Shemwell. For the veterans among your Shemwell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shemwell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shemwell family history

Discover More

What is the average Shemwell lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Shemwell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Shemwell in 1948 was 22, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shemwell

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Shemwell family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Shemwell last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial