UK surname
An English surname derived from the name of a township in Lancashire.
In the 1881 census there were 200 people recorded with the Shackelton surname, ranking it #12,836 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 24, ranked #36,392, down from #12,836 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Halifax, Bingley and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shackelton is 363 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 88.0%.
1881 census count
200
Ranked #12,836
Modern count
24
2016, ranked #36,392
Peak year
1861
363 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Shackelton surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Shackelton surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 312 | #7,397 |
| 1861 | historical | 363 | #7,045 |
| 1881 | historical | 200 | #12,836 |
| 1891 | historical | 156 | #17,842 |
| 1901 | historical | 88 | #24,270 |
| 1911 | historical | 96 | #23,193 |
| 1997 | modern | 26 | #35,135 |
| 1998 | modern | 21 | #35,788 |
| 1999 | modern | 16 | #36,371 |
| 2000 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2001 | modern | 21 | #35,646 |
| 2002 | modern | 28 | #35,139 |
| 2003 | modern | 26 | #35,371 |
| 2004 | modern | 26 | #35,519 |
| 2005 | modern | 25 | #35,752 |
| 2006 | modern | 25 | #35,903 |
| 2007 | modern | 19 | #36,450 |
| 2008 | modern | 18 | #36,607 |
| 2009 | modern | 26 | #36,111 |
| 2010 | modern | 27 | #36,153 |
| 2011 | modern | 23 | #36,369 |
| 2012 | modern | 20 | #36,570 |
| 2013 | modern | 20 | #36,614 |
| 2014 | modern | 20 | #36,654 |
| 2015 | modern | 22 | #36,493 |
| 2016 | modern | 24 | #36,392 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Halifax, Bingley, Bradford, Keighley and Chatham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Halifax | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 2 | Bingley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Keighley | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | Chatham | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Shackelton surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Shackelton, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Shackelton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Shackelton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Shackelton is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shackelton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Shackelton, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Shackelton is of English origin, emerging in the early 13th century from the Yorkshire region. It is derived from the Old English words "sceacol" meaning "shackle" and "tun" meaning "enclosure" or "farmstead". This suggests the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a shackled or fenced area, possibly a livestock enclosure.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the 1275 Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire, which lists a "Ricardus de Shakelton". This spelling variation indicates the fluidity of the name's orthography in its formative years. Over time, it evolved into the more standardized "Shackelton" form.
The name is also found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where a "Johannes de Shakelton" is listed, further cementing the name's regional origins. Additionally, the nearby village of Shackleton in Lancashire may have contributed to the name's development and spread.
In the 16th century, the name appears in various church records, such as the baptism of William Shackelton in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, in 1580. This highlights the name's enduring presence in the region over several centuries.
One of the most notable bearers of the Shackelton name was Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922), the renowned Antarctic explorer and leader of the ill-fated Endurance expedition. His adventurous spirit and leadership during the expedition's harrowing ordeal have made him a celebrated figure in history.
Other noteworthy individuals with the Shackelton surname include Sir Walter Shackelton (1816-1897), a prominent British civil servant and member of the Indian Civil Service, and James Shackelton (1767-1842), an English clergyman and author of several theological works.
In the United States, the name appears in records dating back to the 18th century, with William Shackelton (1741-1811) being one of the earliest recorded bearers. He was a Quaker preacher and abolitionist from Pennsylvania.
The Shackelton surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Shackelton Grange in Yorkshire and Shackelton Lane in Lancashire, further emphasizing its deep-rooted connections to the region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shackelton surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 104 Shackeltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.38x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 104 | 5.38x |
| Lancashire | 46 | 1.99x |
| Surrey | 13 | 1.37x |
| Durham | 11 | 1.90x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 0.46x |
| Kent | 8 | 1.20x |
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 1.28x |
| Dorset | 1 | 0.78x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.26x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 1.25x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.38x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.15x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kippax in Yorkshire leads with 24 Shackeltons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1411.76x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kippax | 24 | 1411.76x |
| Habergham Eaves | 18 | 85.07x |
| Bingley | 14 | 113.73x |
| Bradford | 12 | 25.64x |
| Newchurch | 12 | 63.36x |
| Horton In Bradford | 8 | 26.50x |
| Todmorden Walsden | 8 | 129.03x |
| Keighley | 7 | 33.96x |
| Crook Billy Row | 6 | 80.75x |
| Lambeth | 6 | 3.53x |
| Steeton Cum Eastburn | 6 | 909.09x |
| Wandsworth | 6 | 31.95x |
| Chatham | 5 | 27.31x |
| Halifax | 5 | 17.62x |
| Headingley Cum Burley | 5 | 40.19x |
| Northowram | 5 | 36.87x |
| Willington | 5 | 149.25x |
| Carlton In Selby | 4 | 800.00x |
| Eccleshill | 4 | 85.11x |
| Islington London | 4 | 2.12x |
| Liverpool | 4 | 2.85x |
| Swineshead | 4 | 388.35x |
| Southcoates | 3 | 27.96x |
| Swinton In Rotherham | 3 | 58.71x |
| Great Little Marsden | 2 | 18.87x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 2 | 28.49x |
| Acton | 1 | 8.74x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 0.80x |
| Chislehurst | 1 | 28.01x |
| East Ardsley | 1 | 59.88x |
| Eaton Bishop | 1 | 333.33x |
| Enfield | 1 | 7.81x |
| Everton | 1 | 1.36x |
| Filey | 1 | 64.10x |
| Leyton Low | 1 | 12.77x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 3.25x |
| Poole St James | 1 | 20.79x |
| South Leith | 1 | 3.40x |
| Spotland | 1 | 3.89x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 0.96x |
| Twickenham | 1 | 11.96x |
| Wednesbury | 1 | 6.08x |
| Whorlton | 1 | 217.39x |
| Wortley In Bramley | 1 | 6.53x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Shackelton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 14 |
| Elizabeth | 8 |
| Ann | 6 |
| Martha | 6 |
| Sarah | 6 |
| Alice | 4 |
| Ellen | 4 |
| Isabella | 4 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Faith | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Agnes | 2 |
| Annie | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Phoebe | 2 |
| Priscella | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Amy | 1 |
| Asnath. | 1 |
| Augusta | 1 |
| Barbra | 1 |
| Bessey | 1 |
| Bessy | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Cora | 1 |
| Elizebeth | 1 |
| Elizh. | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Etty | 1 |
| Eunice | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Jinney | 1 |
| Julia | 1 |
| Lavinia | 1 |
| Lilley | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Maggy | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Nancy | 1 |
| Pauline | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Susannah | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Shackelton surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 12 |
| William | 12 |
| James | 10 |
| Thomas | 8 |
| George | 6 |
| Joseph | 6 |
| Fred | 4 |
| Albert | 3 |
| Edward | 2 |
| Job | 2 |
| Alfred | 1 |
| Ambrose | 1 |
| Arthur | 1 |
| Barker | 1 |
| Bejamin | 1 |
| Charley | 1 |
| Christopher | 1 |
| Cornelious | 1 |
| Edwin | 1 |
| Ellis | 1 |
| Fredrick | 1 |
| Henry | 1 |
| Jesse | 1 |
| Laben | 1 |
| Lord | 1 |
| Mitchell | 1 |
| Ned. | 1 |
| Philip | 1 |
| Richard | 1 |
| Sam | 1 |
| Sammuel | 1 |
| Samuel | 1 |
| Seth. | 1 |
| Sidney | 1 |
| Smith | 1 |
| Tom | 1 |
| Wilson | 1 |
| Zacharias | 1 |
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Shackelton households.
FAQ
In 1881, 200 people were recorded with the Shackelton surname. That placed it at #12,836 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 24 in 2016. That gives Shackelton a modern rank of #36,392.
An English surname derived from the name of a township in Lancashire.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Shackelton bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.