NameCensus.

UK surname

Shayler

A surname derived from an occupation involving shearing or clipping wool.

In the 1881 census there were 304 people recorded with the Shayler surname, ranking it #9,637 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 581, ranked #8,925, up from #9,637 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Willesden, Darlaston and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Oxfordshire, Waverley and South Oxfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shayler is 646 in 2004. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 91.1%.

1881 census count

304

Ranked #9,637

Modern count

581

2016, ranked #8,925

Peak year

2004

646 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shayler had 304 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,637 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 581 in 2016, ranked #8,925.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 552 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shayler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shayler surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shayler 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 134 #14,033
1861 historical 209 #11,596
1881 historical 304 #9,637
1891 historical 416 #8,596
1901 historical 468 #8,458
1911 historical 552 #7,264
1997 modern 530 #8,911
1998 modern 613 #8,263
1999 modern 641 #8,050
2000 modern 639 #8,042
2001 modern 631 #7,959
2002 modern 639 #8,064
2003 modern 622 #8,099
2004 modern 646 #7,875
2005 modern 611 #8,162
2006 modern 602 #8,269
2007 modern 602 #8,331
2008 modern 602 #8,392
2009 modern 627 #8,307
2010 modern 627 #8,493
2011 modern 614 #8,526
2012 modern 601 #8,595
2013 modern 602 #8,728
2014 modern 611 #8,681
2015 modern 582 #8,931
2016 modern 581 #8,925

Geography

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Where Shaylers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Willesden, Darlaston, London parishes, Paddington and Shipton-under-Wychwood. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Oxfordshire, Waverley, South Oxfordshire and Central Bedfordshire. 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 Willesden Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Darlaston Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Paddington London (West Districts)
5 Shipton-under-Wychwood Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Oxfordshire 005 West Oxfordshire
2 Waverley 013 Waverley
3 West Oxfordshire 010 West Oxfordshire
4 South Oxfordshire 006 South Oxfordshire
5 Central Bedfordshire 009 Central Bedfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shayler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shayler

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

Shayler is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shayler falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Shayler

The surname Shayler has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "scealere," which meant "a messenger" or "a courier." This suggests that the name may have been an occupational one, referring to individuals who worked as messengers or delivered important documents and communications.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Shayler can be found in historical records from the county of Berkshire in southern England. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a document listing landowners and taxpayers, the name "John le Shayler" appears, indicating that the surname was already in use by that time.

Throughout the centuries, the name has undergone various spelling variations, such as Shayler, Shaylar, Shayller, and Shaylor. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects, scribal errors, and the lack of standardized spelling conventions in earlier times.

One notable historical reference to the name Shayler can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and property commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. While the name itself is not specifically mentioned, there are references to places and localities that may have influenced the formation of the surname, such as the village of Shaylors in Oxfordshire.

Among the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Shayler were William Shayler (born around 1450) and John Shayler (born around 1520), both from the county of Berkshire. Another notable figure was Thomas Shayler (1595-1672), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Boxley in Kent.

Other prominent individuals with the Shayler surname throughout history include:

1. Sir William Shayler (1777-1860), a British Army officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars and the Peninsular War. 2. John Shayler (1851-1925), an English cricketer who played for Essex and Cambridge University. 3. Michael Shayler (born 1940), a British composer and conductor known for his orchestral and choral works. 4. David Shayler (born 1965), a former MI5 officer who became a whistleblower and faced legal consequences for disclosing classified information. 5. Carolyn Shayler (born 1955), an American artist and sculptor known for her large-scale public installations.

While the surname Shayler may have originated from an occupational source, it has since become a well-established family name with a rich history spanning several centuries in England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shayler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shayler 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. Oxfordshire leads with 147 Shaylers recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.08x.

County Total Index
Oxfordshire 147 81.08x
Middlesex 43 1.46x
Berkshire 21 9.53x
Gloucestershire 21 3.65x
Staffordshire 10 1.01x
Kent 9 0.90x
Surrey 9 0.63x
Warwickshire 9 1.22x
Cheshire 6 0.93x
Northumberland 5 1.14x
Lancashire 4 0.11x
Herefordshire 3 2.49x
Derbyshire 2 0.44x
Hampshire 2 0.33x
Suffolk 2 0.56x
Sussex 2 0.40x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.56x
Essex 1 0.17x
Northamptonshire 1 0.36x
Royal Navy 1 2.86x
Shropshire 1 0.39x
Worcestershire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leafield in Oxfordshire leads with 51 Shaylers recorded in 1881 and an index of 7083.33x.

Place Total Index
Leafield 51 7083.33x
Finstock Fawler 13 2166.67x
Charlbury 12 588.24x
Paddington London 12 11.12x
Westminster St James 11 36.45x
Asthall 10 2631.58x
Wednesbury 9 36.33x
Cirencester 8 102.56x
Cornbury Park 8 20000.00x
Culham 8 1481.48x
Birmingham 6 2.43x
Eltham 6 102.21x
Hornsey 6 16.16x
Bampton 5 357.14x
Chipping Norton 5 119.33x
South Hinksey 5 520.83x
Standlake 5 704.23x
Westgate 5 18.48x
Woodstock 5 438.60x
Binsey 4 6666.67x
Islington London 4 1.41x
Minster Lovell 4 784.31x
New Windsor 4 53.98x
Poulton 4 869.57x
Reading St Giles 4 18.50x
Tewkesbury 4 77.82x
Ardwick 3 9.55x
Banbury 3 82.64x
Bray 3 46.30x
Charlton Kings 3 75.38x
Eardisley 3 344.83x
Edgware 3 365.85x
Hoose 3 247.93x
Little Meolse 3 322.58x
Reading St Mary 3 17.00x
St Pancras London 3 1.27x
Streatham 3 13.77x
Witney 3 99.01x
Wychwood 3 1428.57x
Aston 2 0.98x
Bledington 2 540.54x
Clanfield 2 400.00x
Fritton 2 800.00x
Godalming 2 22.20x
Greenwich 2 4.28x
Lambeth 2 0.78x
Mickleover 2 140.85x
St Giles In Fields 2 19.74x
St Marylebone London 2 1.28x
Alverstoke 1 4.59x
Aughton 1 28.99x
Brighton 1 1.00x
Brize Norton 1 129.87x
Buckland 1 136.99x
Carisbrooke 1 11.98x
Curbridge 1 163.93x
Daylesford 1 833.33x
Eastbourne 1 4.39x
Egham 1 11.39x
Goosey 1 625.00x
Gt Rollright 1 256.41x
Kettering 1 8.95x
Lewisham 1 1.87x
Little Ilford 1 100.00x
Neithrop 1 16.42x
Oxford St Aldate 1 52.36x
Oxford St Thomas 1 11.82x
Royal Navy 1 3.34x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 9.99x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.69x
Taplow 1 93.46x
Tutbury 1 41.32x
Warwick St Mary 1 15.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 16
Mary 12
Emily 10
Annie 9
Elizabeth 9
Alice 6
Florence 5
Charlotte 4
Clara 4
Ellen 4
Emma 4
Fanny 4
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Lizzie 3
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Ann 2
Catharine 2
Edith 2
Jane 2
Kate 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Anne 1
Bellie 1
Bertha 1
Charlott 1
Dinah 1
E... 1
Eleanor 1
Elsie 1
Ethel 1
Francis 1
Gertrude 1
Harriott 1
Henrieta 1
Henrietta 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Lerebess 1
Lillian 1
Lucy 1
Maran 1
Margt. 1
Marrion 1
Minnie 1
Mollie 1
Nellie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 14
John 13
William 13
Henry 10
George 9
Charles 7
Joseph 6
Thomas 6
Jesse 5
Mark 5
Walter 5
Edward 4
Frederick 4
Herbert 4
Richard 4
Harry 3
Luke 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
David 2
Frank 2
Frederic 2
Reuben 2
Sidney 2
Alick 1
Charly 1
Douglas 1
Ernest 1
Ernie 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Hubert 1
Jno.Wm. 1
Laurie 1
Lazarus 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Lindow 1
Lot 1
Percival 1
Philip 1
Shadrick 1
Steven 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Chas. 1

FAQ

Shayler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shayler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 304 people were recorded with the Shayler surname. That placed it at #9,637 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shayler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 581 in 2016. That gives Shayler a modern rank of #8,925.

What does the Shayler surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupation involving shearing or clipping wool.

What does the Shayler map show?

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