NameCensus.

UK surname

Shearn

A variant of the English surname derived from the Old English words "scir" and "ærn", meaning a shearing shed or barn.

In the 1881 census there were 349 people recorded with the Shearn surname, ranking it #8,778 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 497, ranked #10,024, down from #8,778 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster and Farington Gurney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bath and North East Somerset and Mendip.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shearn is 568 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.4%.

1881 census count

349

Ranked #8,778

Modern count

497

2016, ranked #10,024

Peak year

1999

568 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shearn had 349 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,778 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 497 in 2016, ranked #10,024.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 541 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Shearn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shearn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shearn 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 197 #10,535
1861 historical 224 #10,882
1881 historical 349 #8,778
1891 historical 416 #8,596
1901 historical 454 #8,657
1911 historical 541 #7,378
1997 modern 526 #8,963
1998 modern 537 #9,091
1999 modern 568 #8,755
2000 modern 543 #9,044
2001 modern 532 #9,028
2002 modern 549 #8,989
2003 modern 537 #8,997
2004 modern 537 #9,015
2005 modern 530 #9,054
2006 modern 515 #9,277
2007 modern 508 #9,455
2008 modern 498 #9,664
2009 modern 503 #9,804
2010 modern 524 #9,711
2011 modern 505 #9,884
2012 modern 528 #9,482
2013 modern 517 #9,766
2014 modern 514 #9,891
2015 modern 503 #9,956
2016 modern 497 #10,024

Geography

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Where Shearns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Bedminster, Farington Gurney, Radstock 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 Bath and North East Somerset and Mendip. 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 Bedminster Somerset
3 Farington Gurney Somerset
4 Radstock Somerset
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bath and North East Somerset 025 Bath and North East Somerset
2 Bath and North East Somerset 027 Bath and North East Somerset
3 Mendip 002 Mendip
4 Bath and North East Somerset 023 Bath and North East Somerset
5 Bath and North East Somerset 026 Bath and North East Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shearn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shearn

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Shearn is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shearn 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

Shearn falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shearn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Shearn

The surname Shearn is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated in the county of Somerset, where it was derived from a locational name referring to a person who resided near a copse or small wood. The name is thought to be a variation of the Old English word "scyrne," which means a small wood or grove.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the surname Shearn can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from the year 1327, where it appears as "Sherne." This entry suggests that the name was already well-established in the region during that time.

In the early 15th century, the name appears in the Feudal Aids records of 1428, where a John Sherne is mentioned as a landowner in Somerset. This record provides further evidence of the surname's longstanding presence in the area.

Another notable reference to the Shearn surname can be found in the Parish Registers of Timberscombe, Somerset, where a William Shearne is recorded as having been buried in 1608. This entry is significant as it showcases the evolution of the spelling from its earlier form.

Among the notable individuals who bore the Shearn surname in history is Robert Shearne (1662-1705), an English clergyman and author who served as the Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. He is best known for his work titled "A Discourse concerning Divine Providence," published in 1696.

Another prominent figure was John Shearn (1725-1788), a British Army officer who served in the American Revolutionary War. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and played a role in the defense of Quebec during the conflict.

In the 19th century, John Shearn (1792-1870) was a notable English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Somerset and the surrounding areas. Some of his notable works include St. Michael's Church in Shepton Mallet and the Taunton County Court.

Moving into the 20th century, Sir Walter Shearn (1904-1981) was a distinguished British civil servant who served as the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from 1958 to 1964.

Lastly, Phillip Shearn (1931-2012) was an Australian artist known for his abstract expressionist paintings. He had a successful career spanning several decades and his works are held in various collections throughout Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shearn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shearn 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. Somerset leads with 217 Shearns recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.06x.

County Total Index
Somerset 217 40.06x
Middlesex 25 0.74x
Gloucestershire 21 3.18x
Monmouthshire 21 8.63x
Surrey 16 0.98x
Cheshire 8 1.08x
Durham 8 0.80x
Dorset 4 1.81x
Hampshire 4 0.58x
Cornwall 3 0.79x
Glamorgan 3 0.51x
Devon 2 0.29x
Lancashire 2 0.05x
Northumberland 2 0.40x
Staffordshire 2 0.18x
Wiltshire 2 0.67x
Berkshire 1 0.40x
Essex 1 0.15x
Nairnshire 1 9.74x
Renfrewshire 1 0.38x
Royal Navy 1 2.49x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Midsomer Norton in Somerset leads with 89 Shearns recorded in 1881 and an index of 1745.10x.

Place Total Index
Midsomer Norton 89 1745.10x
Farrington Gurney 28 4516.13x
Radstock 27 758.43x
Bedminster 23 45.19x
Paulton 17 685.48x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 14 301.72x
Camberwell 12 5.58x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 8 12.87x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 8 18.45x
Bath St James 6 106.19x
Bedwellty 6 13.97x
Islington London 6 1.84x
Walton Superior 6 2142.86x
St George Hanover 5 11.38x
St Giles In Fields 5 43.07x
Bristol St Paul In 4 22.75x
Taunton St James 4 50.63x
Timsbury 4 243.90x
Walcot 4 13.86x
Chelsea London 3 2.96x
Clutton 3 254.24x
Llanwonno 3 14.25x
Maker 3 85.23x
Melcombe Regis 3 32.79x
South Stoneham 3 20.05x
St Clement Danes 3 55.05x
Ampney Crucis 2 322.58x
Blackburn 2 1.88x
Bristol Christchurch 2 208.33x
Camerton 2 126.58x
Elswick 2 5.01x
Lambeth 2 0.68x
Lyncombe Widcombe 2 14.10x
St James Taunton 2 769.23x
Warminster 2 30.67x
Westbury On Trym 2 8.94x
Writhlington 2 425.53x
Alverstoke 1 4.00x
Battersea 1 0.81x
Birkenhead 1 1.69x
Bourton 1 103.09x
Brixham 1 12.32x
Burslem 1 3.07x
Cameley 1 163.93x
Chester St Oswald 1 7.43x
Clifton 1 3.00x
Denchworth 1 384.62x
Greenock Oldor West 1 140.85x
Nairn 1 16.05x
Newcastle Under Lyme 1 4.98x
Portishead 1 24.81x
Royal Navy 1 2.92x
Southwark Christchurch 1 6.34x
St Andrew Holborn 1 8.76x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.96x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.04x
Stone Easton 1 243.90x
Trevethin 1 4.35x
West Ham 1 0.68x
Westbury On Severn 1 38.17x
Westerleigh 1 67.57x
Westminster St 1 8.06x
Whitchurch 1 172.41x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Elizabeth 15
Ann 11
Eliza 10
Sarah 10
Emily 8
Ellen 7
Alice 6
Hannah 5
Martha 5
Florence 4
Annie 3
Grace 3
Jane 3
Julia 3
Louisa 3
Maria 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Elizebath 2
Emma 2
Fanny 2
Gertrude 2
Laura 2
Thirza 2
Anna 1
Augusta 1
Bessie 1
Bethia 1
Betsey 1
Bridget 1
Charlotte 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth.A. 1
Elsie 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Hester 1
Honnora 1
Kate 1
Lilly 1
Margaret 1
Marian 1
Polly 1
Rhoda 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Wilmot 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
George 19
John 16
Charles 15
Joseph 11
James 9
Frederick 5
Henry 5
Mark 5
Albert 4
Alfred 2
Austin 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Eli 2
Ernest 2
Farnham 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Jacob 2
Samuel 2
Thomas 2
Walter 2
Arthur 1
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Dominick 1
Earnest 1
Elijah 1
Elisha 1
Fred 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
Jhon 1
Jonah 1
Page 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Ralph 1
Robert 1
Seth 1
Thelopaus 1
Walton 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Shearn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shearn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 349 people were recorded with the Shearn surname. That placed it at #8,778 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shearn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 497 in 2016. That gives Shearn a modern rank of #10,024.

What does the Shearn surname mean?

A variant of the English surname derived from the Old English words "scir" and "ærn", meaning a shearing shed or barn.

What does the Shearn map show?

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