UK surname
A surname originally describing someone who made or used shackles.
In the 1881 census there were 137 people recorded with the Shackle surname, ranking it #16,358 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 63, ranked #34,163, down from #16,358 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, Hayes and Willesden. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shackle is 152 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 54.0%.
1881 census count
137
Ranked #16,358
Modern count
63
2016, ranked #34,163
Peak year
1891
152 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Shackle surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Shackle 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 | 136 | #13,892 |
| 1861 | historical | 109 | #19,693 |
| 1881 | historical | 137 | #16,358 |
| 1891 | historical | 152 | #18,163 |
| 1901 | historical | 130 | #19,649 |
| 1911 | historical | 125 | #19,932 |
| 1997 | modern | 67 | #30,915 |
| 1998 | modern | 70 | #30,968 |
| 1999 | modern | 72 | #30,955 |
| 2000 | modern | 77 | #30,486 |
| 2001 | modern | 71 | #30,907 |
| 2002 | modern | 72 | #31,269 |
| 2003 | modern | 63 | #32,152 |
| 2004 | modern | 67 | #31,976 |
| 2005 | modern | 61 | #32,814 |
| 2006 | modern | 59 | #33,330 |
| 2007 | modern | 60 | #33,539 |
| 2008 | modern | 61 | #33,655 |
| 2009 | modern | 62 | #33,832 |
| 2010 | modern | 65 | #33,863 |
| 2011 | modern | 54 | #34,563 |
| 2012 | modern | 57 | #34,452 |
| 2013 | modern | 63 | #34,193 |
| 2014 | modern | 65 | #34,082 |
| 2015 | modern | 65 | #34,036 |
| 2016 | modern | 63 | #34,163 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley, Hayes, Willesden, London parishes and Ealing, Chiswick. 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 | Hillingdon (Hillingdon), Ickenham, Cowley | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Hayes | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | Willesden | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Ealing, Chiswick | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Shackle 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 Shackle, 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 Shackle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Shackle 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, Shackle 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 Shackle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Shackle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Shackle originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'sceacul', which means a shackle or fetter. This suggests that the name may have referred to an occupation or trade involving shackles or chains, such as a blacksmith or prisoner guard.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shackle can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named Radulfus Shackle is mentioned. The name also appears in various other medieval records, including the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, which mentions a John Shackle.
During the 13th century, the name Shackle was found predominantly in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire and Lincolnshire. This geographic concentration suggests that the name may have originated in these areas before spreading to other parts of the country.
In the 16th century, the surname Shackle appeared in various forms, including Shackell, Shackill, and Shackyll. One notable bearer of the name was William Shackle, who was born in Yorkshire in 1540 and became a successful merchant and landowner.
The 17th century saw the emergence of several prominent individuals with the surname Shackle. Among them was John Shackle, a clergyman born in Lincolnshire in 1612, who served as the rector of several parishes in the county. Another notable figure was Robert Shackle, born in Yorkshire in 1638, who was a renowned mathematician and astronomer.
In the 18th century, the Shackle family continued to be influential in various fields. One notable example was Thomas Shackle, born in Lincolnshire in 1702, who was a respected lawyer and served as a magistrate for several decades.
The 19th century saw the surname Shackle spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, as a result of emigration from England. One prominent individual from this period was James Shackle, born in Yorkshire in 1820, who became a successful businessman and philanthropist in Canada.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shackle 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. Middlesex leads with 84 Shackles recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.20x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 84 | 6.20x |
| Kent | 11 | 2.38x |
| Buckinghamshire | 9 | 10.98x |
| Lancashire | 7 | 0.44x |
| Norfolk | 7 | 3.36x |
| Suffolk | 4 | 2.42x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 1.27x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 0.88x |
| Berkshire | 2 | 1.97x |
| Cambridgeshire | 2 | 2.33x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.30x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.15x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 2.49x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 0.36x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.07x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ealing in Middlesex leads with 18 Shackles recorded in 1881 and an index of 148.51x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ealing | 18 | 148.51x |
| Hayes | 15 | 1086.96x |
| Hillingdon | 11 | 254.63x |
| Willesden | 11 | 86.07x |
| Iver | 9 | 849.06x |
| Downham Market | 7 | 489.51x |
| Liverpool | 7 | 7.16x |
| Bromley | 6 | 85.11x |
| St Marylebone London | 5 | 6.91x |
| Harlington | 4 | 563.38x |
| Harrow | 4 | 193.24x |
| Ipswich St Margaret | 4 | 71.43x |
| Pinner | 4 | 336.13x |
| Birmingham | 3 | 2.63x |
| Enfield | 3 | 33.71x |
| Swansea Town | 3 | 15.50x |
| Islington London | 2 | 1.52x |
| Kingsdown In Dartford | 2 | 1052.63x |
| Lambeth | 2 | 1.69x |
| Lewisham | 2 | 8.11x |
| Scarborough | 2 | 16.38x |
| Westminster St John | 2 | 12.11x |
| Bradfield | 1 | 185.19x |
| Cowley | 1 | 434.78x |
| East Tytherley | 1 | 555.56x |
| Ely Holy Trinity St Mary | 1 | 26.74x |
| Gillingham | 1 | 10.48x |
| Great Amwell | 1 | 106.38x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 1.32x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 2.99x |
| Hendon | 1 | 20.49x |
| Reading St Lawrence | 1 | 45.87x |
| Soham | 1 | 54.05x |
| St Martin | 1 | 40.65x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 0.92x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Shackle surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Alice | 5 |
| Mary | 4 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Caroline | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Sarah | 3 |
| Sophia | 3 |
| Susan | 3 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Ellen | 2 |
| Emily | 2 |
| Julia | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Maria | 2 |
| Alberta | 1 |
| Annette | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Daisy | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Eleanor | 1 |
| Ellenor | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Fanny | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Ida | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Jemima | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Marian | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Maude | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Rosamond | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Rosina | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Shackle surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Shackle households.
FAQ
In 1881, 137 people were recorded with the Shackle surname. That placed it at #16,358 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 63 in 2016. That gives Shackle a modern rank of #34,163.
A surname originally describing someone who made or used shackles.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Shackle 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.