NameCensus.

UK surname

Sheaf

A bundle or collection of cereal plants cut and bound together after reaping.

In the 1881 census there were 155 people recorded with the Sheaf surname, ranking it #15,174 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 199, ranked #19,653, down from #15,174 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newchurch, Bidford and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sevenoaks, Dudley and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sheaf is 240 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.4%.

1881 census count

155

Ranked #15,174

Modern count

199

2016, ranked #19,653

Peak year

2002

240 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sheaf had 155 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,174 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 199 in 2016, ranked #19,653.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 236 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sheaf surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sheaf surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sheaf 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 136 #13,892
1861 historical 96 #21,648
1881 historical 155 #15,174
1891 historical 180 #16,143
1901 historical 198 #15,213
1911 historical 236 #13,452
1997 modern 220 #16,607
1998 modern 225 #16,846
1999 modern 225 #16,931
2000 modern 228 #16,743
2001 modern 221 #16,848
2002 modern 240 #16,291
2003 modern 216 #17,229
2004 modern 221 #17,066
2005 modern 215 #17,334
2006 modern 214 #17,507
2007 modern 215 #17,633
2008 modern 216 #17,758
2009 modern 218 #18,015
2010 modern 227 #17,895
2011 modern 218 #18,206
2012 modern 199 #19,280
2013 modern 201 #19,454
2014 modern 201 #19,641
2015 modern 193 #20,056
2016 modern 199 #19,653

Geography

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Where Sheafs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newchurch, Bidford, London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sevenoaks, Dudley, Central Bedfordshire, Vale of White Horse and Greenwich. 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 Newchurch Hampshire
2 Bidford Warwickshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sevenoaks 005 Sevenoaks
2 Dudley 023 Dudley
3 Central Bedfordshire 016 Central Bedfordshire
4 Vale of White Horse 005 Vale of White Horse
5 Greenwich 034 Greenwich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sheaf

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sheaf

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Sheaf is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Sheaf is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sheaf 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 Sheaf is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sheaf

The surname "SHEAF" is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "sceaf," meaning a bundle or collection of cut grain or straw. It is believed to have originated as an occupational surname, referring to someone who was involved in harvesting and bundling sheaves of grain or straw.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sceaf." This suggests that the name was already in use before the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The Domesday Book was a comprehensive record of landholdings and properties in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror.

In the 13th century, the surname appears in various records with spellings such as "Shef," "Sheffe," and "Sheyf." These variations reflect the evolution of the English language and the lack of standardized spelling during that time period.

One notable individual bearing the surname was John Sheaf, a clergyman who lived in the late 15th century. He was appointed as the Bishop of Carlisle in 1494 and served in that position until his death in 1502.

Another person of historical significance was Richard Sheafe (1609-1671), an early settler in colonial New England. He was one of the founders of Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and served as a prominent merchant and community leader in the region.

In the 18th century, the surname was also associated with a notable military figure, Sir Roger Sheaffe (1763-1851). He was a British Army officer who served in various campaigns, including the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812. He played a significant role in the Battle of Queenston Heights in 1812, where he commanded British and Canadian forces against the American invasion of Upper Canada.

Another individual of note was William Sheaff (1778-1851), an English engraver and painter. He is known for his work in illustrating books and creating portraits of prominent figures in the early 19th century.

The surname "SHEAF" has also been found in various place names throughout England, such as Sheaf House in Derbyshire and Sheaf Street in Sheffield, which further reinforces its connection to the agricultural roots of the name.

While the surname is relatively uncommon today, it continues to carry a rich history and associations with various occupations, locations, and notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sheaf families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sheaf 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. Kent leads with 35 Sheafs recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.79x.

County Total Index
Kent 35 6.79x
Hampshire 27 8.71x
Surrey 22 2.99x
Hertfordshire 19 18.23x
Worcestershire 13 6.58x
Warwickshire 11 2.89x
Middlesex 6 0.40x
Essex 4 1.34x
Lancashire 4 0.22x
Monmouthshire 4 3.66x
Oxfordshire 4 4.28x
Gloucestershire 3 1.01x
Cheshire 1 0.30x
Sussex 1 0.39x
Yorkshire 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 13 Sheafs recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.41x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 13 21.41x
Kings Walden 12 2033.90x
Coldred 10 12500.00x
Lambeth 10 7.59x
Whippingham 8 340.43x
Bidford 7 853.66x
Greenwich 7 29.08x
St Paul Walden 7 1320.75x
Camberwell 6 6.21x
Charlton 6 174.93x
Newport 6 357.14x
Sibertswold 6 2222.22x
Dudley 5 20.83x
Alcester 4 317.46x
Barrow In Furness 4 16.39x
Christchurch 4 118.34x
Newington 4 7.16x
St Marylebone London 4 4.96x
Whistones 4 279.72x
Witney 4 256.41x
Acrise 3 2727.27x
Bromsgrove 3 45.18x
Cow Honeybourne 3 1578.95x
Wanstead 3 57.36x
Birkenhead 1 3.76x
Brighton 1 1.94x
Clapham 1 5.29x
Eastry 1 138.89x
Enfield 1 10.08x
Hampstead London 1 4.25x
Kings Norton 1 5.65x
Leyton 1 19.46x
Manningham 1 5.42x
Milton In Gravesend 1 12.92x
Sittingbourne 1 24.57x
Sutton 1 18.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 6
Emily 5
Mary 5
Jane 4
Louisa 4
Ann 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Sarah 3
Emma 2
Harriett 2
Marion 2
Abigial 1
Ada 1
Alice 1
Amelia 1
Amy 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Clara 1
Constance 1
Cordelia 1
Eliza 1
Elizath.Ann 1
Emmelina 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Georgiana 1
H.E. 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Hilda 1
Laura 1
Lavinia 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Lily 1
Lizzie 1
Lottie 1
Louie 1
Margaret 1
Marguerite 1
Maud 1
Rose 1
Rosina 1
Selina 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 10
Charles 7
George 6
Thomas 6
Frederick 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Halford 2
Henry 2
John 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Aaron 1
Chas.A.E. 1
Ebenezer 1
Edward 1
Eric 1
Fred 1
H.W. 1
Harry 1
Hezekiah 1
Horatio 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Lenard 1
Lindoff 1
Neville 1
Phillip 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Sheaf surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sheaf surname in 1881?

In 1881, 155 people were recorded with the Sheaf surname. That placed it at #15,174 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sheaf surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 199 in 2016. That gives Sheaf a modern rank of #19,653.

What does the Sheaf surname mean?

A bundle or collection of cereal plants cut and bound together after reaping.

What does the Sheaf map show?

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