UK surname
An English occupational surname referring to a shed or outhouse builder, or someone living near a shed.
In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Shedd surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 69, ranked #33,762, down from #26,134 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict and Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shedd is 163 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.2%.
1881 census count
53
Ranked #26,134
Modern count
69
2016, ranked #33,762
Peak year
1901
163 bearers
Map years
2
1901 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Shedd surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Shedd surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 42 | #25,706 |
| 1861 | historical | 50 | #27,636 |
| 1881 | historical | 53 | #26,134 |
| 1891 | historical | 91 | #25,239 |
| 1901 | historical | 163 | #17,205 |
| 1911 | historical | 125 | #19,932 |
| 1997 | modern | 70 | #30,618 |
| 1998 | modern | 72 | #30,775 |
| 1999 | modern | 73 | #30,856 |
| 2000 | modern | 61 | #32,039 |
| 2001 | modern | 62 | #31,798 |
| 2002 | modern | 61 | #32,286 |
| 2003 | modern | 65 | #31,979 |
| 2004 | modern | 66 | #32,079 |
| 2005 | modern | 62 | #32,708 |
| 2006 | modern | 68 | #32,441 |
| 2007 | modern | 68 | #32,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 67 | #33,135 |
| 2009 | modern | 70 | #33,182 |
| 2010 | modern | 72 | #33,324 |
| 2011 | modern | 72 | #33,323 |
| 2012 | modern | 80 | #32,877 |
| 2013 | modern | 79 | #33,142 |
| 2014 | modern | 77 | #33,336 |
| 2015 | modern | 71 | #33,666 |
| 2016 | modern | 69 | #33,762 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict, Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy, Luton 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 No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Darlington | Durham |
| 2 | Cambridge: St Andrew the Less, St Andrew the Great, Holy Trinity, St Benedict | Cambridgeshire |
| 3 | Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy | Essex |
| 4 | Luton | Bedfordshire |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Shedd surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Shedd, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Shedd surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Shedd household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Shedd is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shedd is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Shedd, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Shedd originated in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sceard," which means a gap or opening, referring to a specific geographic location or feature. The name was often associated with those living near such gaps or openings in hills, valleys, or ridges.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Scead" and "Scede." This indicates that the name was already established in parts of England during the Norman Conquest.
In the 13th century, the name was spelled in various ways, including Shedd, Shedde, and Schedd. These variations were likely due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies in record-keeping at the time.
The Shedd family was particularly prominent in the counties of Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Staffordshire. In the 14th century, John Shedd was recorded as a landowner in the village of Ecclesfield, near Sheffield, Yorkshire.
In the 16th century, a notable figure with the surname was William Shedd (c. 1550-1628), a wealthy merchant and alderman from London. He was known for his philanthropic efforts and contributed to the construction of several churches and schools in the city.
Another prominent individual was Benjamin Shedd (1770-1839), an American theologian and educator. He served as the president of the University of Vermont and played a significant role in the development of the institution.
Moving into the 19th century, William Greenleaf Taylor Shedd (1820-1894) was a renowned American theologian, educator, and author. He served as a professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York and wrote several influential works on theology and philosophy.
In the early 20th century, John Cutler Shedd (1860-1928) was a successful businessman and philanthropist from Chicago. He amassed a significant fortune through his investments and later donated a substantial portion of his wealth to establish the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, which opened in 1930.
Martha Shedd (1917-2010) was a notable American author and illustrator known for her children's books, including "Catch That Frog!" and "The Harmless Hunter." Her work was praised for its whimsical illustrations and engaging storytelling.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shedd surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 22 Shedds recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.56x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Essex | 22 | 21.56x |
| Cambridgeshire | 9 | 27.50x |
| Middlesex | 6 | 1.16x |
| Durham | 5 | 3.25x |
| Kent | 5 | 2.84x |
| Buckinghamshire | 3 | 9.60x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 2.52x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.40x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chelmsford in Essex leads with 7 Shedds recorded in 1881 and an index of 400.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Chelmsford | 7 | 400.00x |
| Saffron Walden | 7 | 648.15x |
| St Andrewthe Less | 7 | 187.17x |
| Darlington | 5 | 84.18x |
| Snodland | 5 | 1000.00x |
| Writtle | 4 | 952.38x |
| Buckingham | 3 | 468.75x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 10.36x |
| Bow London | 2 | 30.40x |
| East Dereham | 2 | 200.00x |
| West Ham | 2 | 8.88x |
| Great Baddow | 1 | 277.78x |
| Great Dunmow | 1 | 188.68x |
| Holy Trinity Cambridge | 1 | 277.78x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 12.25x |
| Reigate Foreign | 1 | 36.63x |
| St Benedict Cambridge | 1 | 555.56x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Shedd surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Shedd surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Shedd households.
FAQ
In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Shedd surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 69 in 2016. That gives Shedd a modern rank of #33,762.
An English occupational surname referring to a shed or outhouse builder, or someone living near a shed.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Shedd bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.