NameCensus.

UK surname

Sharland

A surname derived from a place name referring to a shard or boundary land.

In the 1881 census there were 775 people recorded with the Sharland surname, ranking it #4,779 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 896, ranked #6,324, down from #4,779 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Taunton Deane, Mid Devon and East Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sharland is 961 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.6%.

1881 census count

775

Ranked #4,779

Modern count

896

2016, ranked #6,324

Peak year

1901

961 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sharland had 775 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,779 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 896 in 2016, ranked #6,324.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 961 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sharland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sharland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sharland 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 585 #4,372
1861 historical 538 #4,878
1881 historical 775 #4,779
1891 historical 832 #4,886
1901 historical 961 #4,892
1911 historical 956 #4,713
1997 modern 891 #6,008
1998 modern 924 #6,028
1999 modern 919 #6,100
2000 modern 909 #6,133
2001 modern 897 #6,106
2002 modern 925 #6,069
2003 modern 894 #6,119
2004 modern 922 #5,967
2005 modern 895 #6,053
2006 modern 889 #6,102
2007 modern 899 #6,091
2008 modern 904 #6,110
2009 modern 909 #6,209
2010 modern 918 #6,291
2011 modern 916 #6,244
2012 modern 911 #6,194
2013 modern 920 #6,247
2014 modern 918 #6,282
2015 modern 891 #6,368
2016 modern 896 #6,324

Geography

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Where Sharlands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Taunton Deane, Mid Devon and East Devon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Taunton Deane 003 Taunton Deane
2 Taunton Deane 013 Taunton Deane
3 Mid Devon 006 Mid Devon
4 Taunton Deane 012 Taunton Deane
5 East Devon 001 East Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sharland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sharland

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sharland, 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 Sharland surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sharland 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Sharland is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sharland is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sharland falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sharland 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 Sharland, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sharland

The surname Sharland has its origins in England, with records indicating its presence as early as the 13th century. The name is derived from the Old English words "scir" meaning "bright" or "shining" and "land" referring to a geographical region or territory. It is believed to have originated as a descriptive name for someone who lived in a bright or well-lit area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sharland surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1230, where it appears as "Scharlanda." This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

In the 14th century, the Sharland surname was documented in various historical records, including the Hundredorum Rolls of Norfolk from 1275, where it appears as "Scharland." This suggests that the name was well-established in the Norfolk region during this period.

Notable individuals with the Sharland surname throughout history include William Sharland (1593-1666), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Harthill in Yorkshire. Another prominent figure was John Sharland (1678-1753), a British naval officer who commanded several ships during the War of the Spanish Succession and the War of the Austrian Succession.

In the 19th century, James Sharland (1801-1892) was a respected English architect known for his work on various churches and public buildings in the West Country region. Additionally, George Sharland (1847-1921) was a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Middlesbrough from 1900 to 1906.

Further back in history, the Sharland surname can be traced to the Domesday Book of 1086, which records a landowner named Aluric Scharland in the county of Wiltshire. This early reference suggests that the name had already established itself in England by the late 11th century.

While the Sharland surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, including North America and Australia, due to migration and colonial expansion. However, its origins and earliest documented instances can be firmly traced back to the English counties of Norfolk, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire, dating back to the medieval period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sharland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sharland 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. Devon leads with 332 Sharlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.75x.

County Total Index
Devon 332 20.75x
Middlesex 105 1.37x
Surrey 81 2.16x
Somerset 71 5.74x
Gloucestershire 61 4.05x
Hampshire 29 1.84x
Kent 29 1.11x
Dorset 17 3.37x
Channel Islands 7 3.07x
Yorkshire 7 0.09x
Lancashire 6 0.07x
Monmouthshire 6 1.08x
Essex 5 0.33x
Hertfordshire 5 0.94x
Huntingdonshire 4 2.62x
Royal Navy 4 4.37x
Staffordshire 4 0.15x
Cornwall 3 0.34x
Wiltshire 3 0.44x
Sussex 2 0.15x
Bedfordshire 1 0.25x
Berkshire 1 0.17x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.22x
Leicestershire 1 0.12x
Norfolk 1 0.08x
Warwickshire 1 0.05x
Worcestershire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Exeter St Sidwell in Devon leads with 35 Sharlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 95.52x.

Place Total Index
Exeter St Sidwell 35 95.52x
West Teignmouth 26 212.42x
Kensington London 21 4.91x
Cruwys Morchard 20 1250.00x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 19 13.39x
Tormoham 19 28.07x
Bristol St George 18 25.82x
Croydon 18 8.66x
Tiverton 16 58.06x
Bishopsteignton 15 495.05x
Camberwell 15 3.05x
Hackney London 15 3.48x
Newton Abbot St Mary 15 111.77x
Lambeth 14 2.09x
Battersea 13 4.60x
Crediton 13 85.75x
Frome 13 43.93x
Newington 11 3.87x
Exeter St Mary Major 10 103.63x
Colaton Raleigh 9 454.55x
Exeter Holy Trinity 9 143.54x
Powderham 9 1216.22x
South Stoneham 9 26.33x
St Pancras London 9 1.45x
Stockleigh English 9 5294.12x
Thorverton 9 370.37x
Wellington 9 53.64x
Canford Magna 8 274.91x
Exeter St Mary Steps 8 221.61x
Minster In Sheppey 8 18.41x
Shobrooke 8 473.37x
Twickenham 8 24.27x
Bristol St James St Paul 7 13.92x
Bromley 7 17.51x
Chelsea London 7 3.02x
Enfield 7 13.88x
Eston 7 42.19x
Lyncombe Widcombe 7 21.60x
Paddington London 7 2.48x
St Helier 7 9.44x
Tooting Graveney 7 67.18x
Bratton Seymour 6 2608.70x
Bristol St Paul In 6 14.94x
Christchurch 6 34.90x
Fareham 6 31.70x
Leyland 6 37.81x
Yeovil 6 23.87x
Bedminster 5 4.30x
Cheshunt 5 27.00x
Clifton 5 6.56x
Corfe Mullen 5 273.22x
Exeter St Paul 5 157.73x
Halse 5 471.70x
Horfield 5 32.96x
Spreyton 5 495.05x
Wookey 5 183.15x
Amblecote 4 54.05x
Cheriton Fitzpaine 4 197.04x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.20x
Colebrooke 4 213.90x
Exeter St David 4 29.26x
Exeter St Thomas The 4 24.52x
Fulham London 4 3.59x
Kentisbeare 4 181.82x
Mile End Old Town 4 3.30x
Poughill 4 588.24x
Puddington 4 701.75x
Royal Navy 4 5.11x
Barnstaple 3 11.95x
Churchstanton 3 153.06x
East Stonehouse 3 9.52x
Exeter St Leonard 3 68.49x
Hammersmith London 3 1.58x
Islington London 3 0.40x
Lewisham 3 2.15x
Littleham 3 25.64x
Newport 3 35.09x
Stoke Newington London 3 5.01x
Tedburn St Mary 3 177.51x
Wells St Cuthbert 3 35.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 55
Elizabeth 25
Sarah 23
Ellen 21
Jane 16
Alice 14
Emily 14
Annie 13
Emma 12
Eliza 10
Fanny 10
Maria 10
Ann 9
Caroline 8
Louisa 7
Anne 6
Hannah 6
Lucy 6
Susan 6
Ada 5
Bessie 5
Edith 5
Florence 5
Harriet 5
Harriett 5
Kate 5
Laura 5
Matilda 5
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Eleanor 3
Lavinia 3
Martha 3
Nellie 3
Rhoda 3
Rosa 3
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Franses 2
Grace 2
Henrietta 2
Jessie 2
Julia 2
Mabel 2
Marion 2
Priscilla 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 62
John 49
Thomas 32
George 26
Henry 17
James 16
Charles 14
Arthur 13
Richard 12
Edward 11
Frederick 11
Walter 10
Samuel 8
Ernest 7
Francis 7
Albert 6
Robert 5
Daniel 4
Frank 4
Joseph 4
Herbert 3
Peter 3
Alfred 2
Edmund 2
Emanuel 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Archer 1
Bertram 1
Charlie 1
Duncan 1
Earnest 1
Elias 1
Emmanuel 1
Ephraim 1
F.G. 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Jorge 1
Jos. 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Mary 1
Morley 1
Reginald 1
Roberth 1
Wm.Ayre 1

FAQ

Sharland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sharland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 775 people were recorded with the Sharland surname. That placed it at #4,779 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sharland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 896 in 2016. That gives Sharland a modern rank of #6,324.

What does the Sharland surname mean?

A surname derived from a place name referring to a shard or boundary land.

What does the Sharland map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sharland 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.