NameCensus.

UK surname

Shead

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to a shed or shelter.

In the 1881 census there were 546 people recorded with the Shead surname, ranking it #6,327 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 751, ranked #7,283, down from #6,327 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Finchingfield, London parishes and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Tonbridge and Malling and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shead is 996 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.5%.

1881 census count

546

Ranked #6,327

Modern count

751

2016, ranked #7,283

Peak year

1911

996 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shead had 546 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,327 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 751 in 2016, ranked #7,283.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 996 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shead surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shead surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shead 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 294 #7,758
1861 historical 381 #6,712
1881 historical 546 #6,327
1891 historical 721 #5,469
1901 historical 822 #5,496
1911 historical 996 #4,556
1997 modern 797 #6,556
1998 modern 806 #6,713
1999 modern 807 #6,741
2000 modern 801 #6,767
2001 modern 780 #6,776
2002 modern 777 #6,940
2003 modern 767 #6,884
2004 modern 762 #6,944
2005 modern 741 #7,027
2006 modern 745 #7,018
2007 modern 767 #6,926
2008 modern 770 #6,956
2009 modern 780 #7,024
2010 modern 791 #7,095
2011 modern 789 #7,033
2012 modern 780 #7,002
2013 modern 772 #7,178
2014 modern 771 #7,205
2015 modern 755 #7,266
2016 modern 751 #7,283

Geography

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Where Sheads are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Finchingfield, London parishes, St Dunstan Stepney, Lambeth and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Tonbridge and Malling, South Somerset and Eden. 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 Finchingfield Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Dunstan Stepney London (East Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 027 County Durham
2 Tonbridge and Malling 008 Tonbridge and Malling
3 South Somerset 014 South Somerset
4 Eden 001 Eden
5 South Somerset 020 South Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shead

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shead

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Shead is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shead is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shead falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Shead

The surname "SHEAD" is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Somerset. This name is thought to have derived from the Old English word "scead," which means "to divide" or "to separate." It is likely that the name was initially given to someone who lived near a boundary or division of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "SHEAD" can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Schede." This historical record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames in different regions of England during the 11th century.

During the medieval period, the name "SHEAD" was often associated with various place names in Somerset, such as Sheadborough and Sheadwell. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name "SHEAD" was John Shead (c. 1540-1615), a prominent English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Berkshire. Another individual of note was Sir Richard Shead (1608-1678), a member of the English gentry and a landowner in Somerset.

The 18th century saw the birth of Thomas Shead (1738-1813), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He participated in several notable battles and is recognized for his contributions to naval history.

In the 19th century, one of the most renowned individuals with the surname "SHEAD" was Sir John Shead (1825-1902), a British architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Another noteworthy figure from this period was Emily Shead (1871-1954), a British artist and illustrator known for her intricate botanical illustrations and her work in the Art Nouveau style.

Throughout its history, the surname "SHEAD" has maintained a strong presence in the counties of Somerset and Dorset in England, where it originated. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to the Old English word "scead," reflecting its connection to the division or separation of land.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shead families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shead 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. Essex leads with 217 Sheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.83x.

County Total Index
Essex 217 20.83x
Middlesex 120 2.27x
Surrey 65 2.53x
Yorkshire 29 0.55x
Kent 26 1.44x
Suffolk 23 3.58x
Lancashire 17 0.27x
Hertfordshire 14 3.85x
Glamorgan 7 0.76x
Devon 6 0.55x
Derbyshire 4 0.48x
Durham 3 0.19x
Herefordshire 3 1.39x
Hampshire 2 0.18x
Somerset 2 0.24x
Cheshire 1 0.09x
Lincolnshire 1 0.12x
Wiltshire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Finchingfield in Essex leads with 36 Sheads recorded in 1881 and an index of 1104.29x.

Place Total Index
Finchingfield 36 1104.29x
Camberwell 19 5.64x
Hackney London 19 6.42x
Lambeth 18 3.91x
Islington London 14 2.74x
Wivenhoe 14 338.16x
Braintree 13 139.04x
St George Hanover 13 18.87x
Felstead 12 336.13x
Bishop Stortford 11 90.54x
East Donyland 11 438.25x
Mile End Old Town 11 13.21x
St Lawrence Newland 11 2894.74x
West Ham 11 4.78x
Writtle 11 258.22x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 10 20.53x
Bromley London 10 8.61x
Bures St Mary 9 927.84x
Newington 9 4.62x
Bootle Cum Linacre 8 16.09x
Nayland 8 490.80x
North Ockendon 8 1333.33x
Paddington London 8 4.12x
Rotherhithe 8 12.27x
Barking 7 22.97x
Llandaff 7 22.90x
Rayne 7 958.90x
Shadwell London 7 47.39x
Ashingdon 6 3750.00x
Colchester St Giles 6 58.31x
Colchester St Peter 6 143.88x
Dartford 6 32.59x
Dartmouth Townstall 6 134.23x
Greenwich 6 7.14x
Ipswich St Peter 6 69.36x
Spitalfields London 6 15.12x
St Luke London 6 7.09x
Brentwood 5 78.74x
Clerkenwell London 5 4.01x
Ipswich St Mathew 5 27.76x
Stansted Mountfitchet 5 190.11x
Aythorpe Roothing 4 930.23x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.74x
Bow London 4 5.95x
Buttsbury 4 487.80x
Elmton 4 425.53x
Great Waltham 4 94.34x
Minster In Sheppey 4 13.41x
Mitcham 4 24.62x
St Anne Soho London 4 13.27x
Bures St Mary 3 191.08x
Edmonton 3 7.06x
Falsgrave 3 38.91x
Feering 3 218.98x
Gosfield 3 270.27x
Heaton 3 53.38x
Hertford St John 3 55.35x
Linthwaite 3 27.30x
Pendleton In Salford 3 4.02x
Spotland 3 4.31x
Swanscombe 3 37.08x
Warley 3 19.85x
Weobley 3 187.50x
Witham 3 55.87x
Bermondsey 2 1.27x
Eastwood 2 219.78x
Farnborough 2 17.61x
Grays Thurrock 2 20.66x
Hammersmith London 2 1.54x
Kensington London 2 0.68x
Milton In Gravesend 2 7.41x
Rainhill 2 49.88x
Scarborough 2 4.21x
Springfield 2 43.86x
Colchester St James 1 23.70x
Colchester St Mary At 1 27.10x
Framwellgate 1 10.75x
Hadleigh 1 16.03x
Little Thurrock 1 120.48x
Wapping London 1 24.81x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 22
Alice 21
Mary 21
Sarah 20
Eliza 14
Ellen 10
Emma 10
Emily 9
Jane 9
Annie 8
Harriet 8
Hannah 6
Susan 6
Ada 5
Edith 5
Ann 4
Clara 4
Eleanor 4
Kate 4
Louisa 4
Minnie 4
Susannah 4
Catherine 3
Florence 3
Martha 3
Rose 3
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Daisy 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Harriett 2
Helen 2
Isabella 2
Julia 2
Lilian 2
Maria 2
Rebecca 2
Caraline 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Ethel 1
Florance 1
Hephzibar 1
Janet 1
Kezia 1
Letitia 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 39
John 21
George 17
Thomas 16
James 14
Walter 14
Charles 11
Henry 11
Alfred 10
Samuel 10
Frederick 7
Joseph 7
Albert 6
Ernest 6
Arthur 5
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Daniel 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Peter 3
Robert 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Aug. 1
Benston 1
Christopher 1
Clarence 1
David 1
Elijah 1
Enos 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Edwd. 1
Horace 1
Jesse 1
Jno 1
Jonas 1
Leonard 1
Luke 1
Nehemiah 1
Newell 1
Philip 1
Phillip 1
Rowland 1
Rummadge 1
Sidney 1
Wm.Jas. 1

FAQ

Shead surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shead surname in 1881?

In 1881, 546 people were recorded with the Shead surname. That placed it at #6,327 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shead surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 751 in 2016. That gives Shead a modern rank of #7,283.

What does the Shead surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name referring to a shed or shelter.

What does the Shead map show?

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