NameCensus.

UK surname

Shackley

An Anglo-Saxon occupational surname referring to someone who lived by the shackles or sheep pens.

In the 1881 census there were 182 people recorded with the Shackley surname, ranking it #13,647 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 221, ranked #18,321, down from #13,647 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Harrington, St Bees and Carlisle St Cuthbert. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Copeland and South Northamptonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shackley is 248 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 21.4%.

1881 census count

182

Ranked #13,647

Modern count

221

2016, ranked #18,321

Peak year

1911

248 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shackley had 182 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,647 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016, ranked #18,321.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 248 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shackley surname distribution map

The map shows where the Shackley surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Shackley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shackley over time

The 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 111 #16,006
1861 historical 162 #14,310
1881 historical 182 #13,647
1891 historical 176 #16,404
1901 historical 222 #14,169
1911 historical 248 #12,988
1997 modern 208 #17,219
1998 modern 221 #17,021
1999 modern 236 #16,404
2000 modern 238 #16,290
2001 modern 230 #16,415
2002 modern 229 #16,771
2003 modern 226 #16,766
2004 modern 220 #17,129
2005 modern 218 #17,170
2006 modern 217 #17,349
2007 modern 225 #17,154
2008 modern 220 #17,544
2009 modern 235 #17,151
2010 modern 245 #17,013
2011 modern 234 #17,383
2012 modern 228 #17,584
2013 modern 232 #17,663
2014 modern 224 #18,202
2015 modern 224 #18,117
2016 modern 221 #18,321

Geography

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Where Shackleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Harrington, St Bees, Carlisle St Cuthbert, Manchester and Dalton-in-Furness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Copeland and South Northamptonshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Harrington Cumberland
2 St Bees Cumberland
3 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Copeland 007 Copeland
2 Copeland 002 Copeland
3 South Northamptonshire 008 South Northamptonshire
4 Copeland 006 Copeland
5 Copeland 003 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shackley

These lists show first names that appear often with the Shackley surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shackley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Shackley, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Shackley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Shackley household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Shackley is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shackley is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shackley falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shackley is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Shackley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Shackley

The surname Shackley is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from a place name, specifically a locational surname referring to someone who hailed from a particular hamlet or village called Shackley or Shakeley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Scacheleia," referring to a settlement in Derbyshire. This suggests that the name may have originated in that region, possibly indicating that the earliest bearers of the surname Shackley came from this area.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various records with different spellings, such as "Schakeley," "Shackeley," and "Shakledy." These variations reflect the phonetic nature of surnames during that time, as well as regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling practices of the era.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Shackley was Sir Richard Shackley (1513-1592), a wealthy merchant and landowner from London. He was a prominent figure in the city's mercantile circles and served as an alderman and Sheriff of London.

Another individual of note was John Shackley (1683-1767), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stonegrave in Yorkshire. He published several works on religious and theological subjects during his lifetime.

In the 18th century, the Shackley family established a presence in the United States, with records indicating that a Thomas Shackley (1722-1803) emigrated from England and settled in Virginia. He and his descendants contributed to the growth and development of the American colonies.

The name Shackley has also been associated with several place names in England, such as Shackley Hollow in Derbyshire and Shackley Lane in Lancashire. These locations may have served as the origin points for various branches of the Shackley family.

Throughout history, other notable individuals bearing the surname Shackley include:

1. William Shackley (1803-1879), an English architect and civil engineer responsible for designing several notable buildings in Liverpool. 2. Alice Shackley (1880-1961), a British suffragette and activist who campaigned for women's rights and social reforms. 3. Edward Shackley (1911-1994), an American archaeologist and expert on Native American cultures, particularly those of the Southwest. 4. David Shackley (born 1945), a renowned American anthropologist and expert on lithic analysis and sourcing studies. 5. Theodore Shackley (1953-2002), an American intelligence officer and CIA operative who played a significant role in the Iran-Contra affair.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shackley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shackley surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 84 Shackleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.01x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 84 4.01x
Cumberland 73 48.03x
Yorkshire 11 0.63x
Middlesex 6 0.34x
Westmorland 3 7.73x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.94x
Durham 1 0.19x
Kent 1 0.17x
Wiltshire 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitehaven in Cumberland leads with 15 Shackleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 185.19x.

Place Total Index
Whitehaven 15 185.19x
Dalton In Furness 12 148.33x
Ashton Under Lyne 11 24.03x
St Mary Within 10 526.32x
Everton 9 13.48x
Upper Allithwaite E 9 2647.06x
Bootle 8 1632.65x
Caldewgate 7 84.03x
Muncaster 7 2187.50x
St Bees 7 1000.00x
Brightside Bierlow 6 17.49x
Kirkdale 6 17.03x
Cheetham 5 32.01x
Dalston 5 427.35x
Harrington 5 273.22x
Kirkby 5 588.24x
Manchester 5 5.31x
Sheffield 5 8.98x
Arlecdon 4 99.01x
Barrow In Furness 4 14.04x
Edmonton 4 28.13x
Liverpool 4 3.14x
Droylsden 3 43.92x
Preston 3 5.35x
Rydal Loughrigg 3 1000.00x
Scarisbrick 3 123.46x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 6.01x
Hornsey 2 8.96x
Angerton 1 5000.00x
Birkby 1 1666.67x
Canterbury St Mary 1 24.75x
Colton 1 91.74x
Egremont 1 27.62x
Gateshead 1 2.54x
Lorton 1 416.67x
Preston Quarter 1 23.47x
Swindon 1 8.26x
Ulpha 1 555.56x
Ulverston 1 16.39x
Wingrave 1 181.82x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Shackley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 10
Sarah 7
Agnes 3
Alice 3
Frances 3
Isabella 3
Jane 3
Annie 2
Esther 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Ada 1
Ann 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Dorothy 1
Elenor 1
Elinor 1
Elisa 1
Elise 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Harriet 1
Lilly 1
Louise 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Rachel 1
Rebacca 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Shackley surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 19
William 17
Joseph 14
Isaac 7
James 7
Thomas 7
Edward 6
Alfred 3
George 3
Daniel 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Albert 1
Anthony 1
Atkinson 1
Charles 1
Christopher 1
Danniel 1
Edwd. 1
Frederick 1
Marmaduke 1
Sarah 1
Tom 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Shackley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shackley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 182 people were recorded with the Shackley surname. That placed it at #13,647 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shackley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016. That gives Shackley a modern rank of #18,321.

What does the Shackley surname mean?

An Anglo-Saxon occupational surname referring to someone who lived by the shackles or sheep pens.

What does the Shackley map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Shackley bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.