UK surname
A surname derived from an Irish Gaelic word meaning "fairy" or "sprite".
In the 1881 census there were 223 people recorded with the Shee surname, ranking it #11,998 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 65, ranked #34,017, down from #11,998 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Witham, London parishes and Hull Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shee is 223 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 70.9%.
1881 census count
223
Ranked #11,998
Modern count
65
2016, ranked #34,017
Peak year
1881
223 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Shee surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Shee surname density by area, 1881 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 | 148 | #13,028 |
| 1861 | historical | 198 | #12,114 |
| 1881 | historical | 223 | #11,998 |
| 1891 | historical | 189 | #15,547 |
| 1901 | historical | 195 | #15,380 |
| 1911 | historical | 127 | #19,749 |
| 1997 | modern | 63 | #31,335 |
| 1998 | modern | 62 | #31,735 |
| 1999 | modern | 58 | #32,268 |
| 2000 | modern | 55 | #32,609 |
| 2001 | modern | 53 | #32,674 |
| 2002 | modern | 51 | #33,193 |
| 2003 | modern | 53 | #33,076 |
| 2004 | modern | 52 | #33,418 |
| 2005 | modern | 55 | #33,349 |
| 2006 | modern | 52 | #33,923 |
| 2007 | modern | 56 | #33,875 |
| 2008 | modern | 60 | #33,743 |
| 2009 | modern | 67 | #33,450 |
| 2010 | modern | 62 | #34,069 |
| 2011 | modern | 60 | #34,202 |
| 2012 | modern | 64 | #34,028 |
| 2013 | modern | 72 | #33,631 |
| 2014 | modern | 72 | #33,647 |
| 2015 | modern | 66 | #33,976 |
| 2016 | modern | 65 | #34,017 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Witham, London parishes, Hull Holy Trinity and Paddington. 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 | Witham | Essex |
| 2 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 3 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 4 | Paddington | London (West Districts) |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Shee 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 Shee, 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 Shee surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Shee 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, Shee 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 Shee is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Shee, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SHEE is believed to have originated in the Scottish Lowlands during the Middle Ages. It is thought to be an anglicized version of the Gaelic surname "Shìth," which means "peace" or "tranquility." The name may have been adopted as a descriptive surname for someone with a peaceful or calm demeanor.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SHEE can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which were a series of instruments documenting the sworn allegiance of Scottish nobles and landowners to King Edward I of England. In these rolls, a certain "Johannes de Shee" is listed as a resident of Berwickshire.
In the 15th century, records show that a family bearing the name SHEE resided in the village of Sheested, located in Aberdeenshire. This place name is believed to be derived from the Old English words "scîr" meaning "bright" and "stede" meaning "place," suggesting that the name may have originally referred to a bright or luminous location.
One notable individual with the surname SHEE was Sir John Shee (c. 1470-1545), a prominent English lawyer and judge who served as the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer during the reign of King Henry VIII. He was born in Winslow, Buckinghamshire, and played a significant role in the legal proceedings surrounding the dissolution of the monasteries.
Another historical figure bearing the name SHEE was Archibald Shee (1668-1744), a Scottish Jacobite soldier and landowner. He fought for the Jacobite cause during the Jacobite rising of 1715 and was later pardoned for his involvement.
In the 18th century, a notable individual named William Shee (1741-1795) was a prominent Irish politician and judge. He served as the Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer and was a member of the Irish House of Commons, representing County Kilkenny.
The surname SHEE also has ties to the noble Sheedy family of County Tipperary, Ireland. This family can trace their lineage back to the 12th century and the Gaelic chieftain Séadna Ó Síoda, whose name means "Séadna of the Silk" in Irish Gaelic.
Throughout its history, the surname SHEE has been subject to various spelling variations, including Shee, Shea, Sheady, and Sheedy, reflecting the diverse regional and linguistic influences that have shaped the name over time.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shee 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. Lancashire leads with 44 Shees recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.75x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 44 | 1.75x |
| Middlesex | 38 | 1.80x |
| Yorkshire | 35 | 1.67x |
| Aberdeenshire | 30 | 15.30x |
| Monmouthshire | 10 | 6.54x |
| Essex | 7 | 1.68x |
| Glamorgan | 7 | 1.90x |
| Kent | 7 | 0.97x |
| Banffshire | 6 | 13.67x |
| Surrey | 5 | 0.48x |
| Durham | 4 | 0.64x |
| Gloucestershire | 4 | 0.96x |
| Oxfordshire | 4 | 3.06x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 0.64x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 0.56x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.45x |
| Lanarkshire | 2 | 0.29x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 0.61x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 1.25x |
| Herefordshire | 1 | 1.15x |
| Morayshire | 1 | 3.04x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.28x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George Hanover in Middlesex leads with 12 Shees recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.43x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Shee surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 12 |
| Ellen | 9 |
| Elizabeth | 5 |
| Margaret | 5 |
| Annie | 3 |
| Catherine | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Kate | 3 |
| Maria | 3 |
| Marie | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Ann | 2 |
| Bridget | 2 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Harriet | 2 |
| Sarah | 2 |
| Abigail | 1 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Anne | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Edward | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Ella | 1 |
| Ellener | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Eveline | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Hannora | 1 |
| Isabella | 1 |
| Katie | 1 |
| Laura | 1 |
| Louise | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Mabel | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Monagan | 1 |
| Patrick | 1 |
| Priscilla | 1 |
| Rose | 1 |
| Sheela | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Shee surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 15 |
| William | 10 |
| Daniel | 7 |
| Thomas | 7 |
| George | 4 |
| Henry | 3 |
| Martin | 3 |
| Thos. | 3 |
| Anthony | 2 |
| Edward | 2 |
| Herbert | 2 |
| James | 2 |
| Patrick | 2 |
| Richard | 2 |
| Timothy | 2 |
| Albert | 1 |
| Angus | 1 |
| Charles | 1 |
| Coinelius | 1 |
| Danuel | 1 |
| Denis | 1 |
| Dennis | 1 |
| Ernest | 1 |
| Frank | 1 |
| Fred | 1 |
| Hubert | 1 |
| Joshua | 1 |
| Martni | 1 |
| Michael | 1 |
| Mitchell | 1 |
| Simon | 1 |
| Visitor | 1 |
| Wm. | 1 |
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 Shee households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 36 |
| Labourer | 6 |
| Needlewoman | 4 |
| Ag Lab | 3 |
| Cotton T Spinner | 2 |
| Errand Boy | 2 |
| Housekeeper | 2 |
| Tailor | 2 |
| Wife | 2 |
| Barmaid | 1 |
| Barrister At Law In Practice | 1 |
| Barrister In Practise | 1 |
| Barristers Wife | 1 |
| Boot & Shoemaker | 1 |
| Brass Founder | 1 |
| Cabdriver | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Captain 1st Middlesex Militia | 1 |
| Carpenter & Joiner | 1 |
| China & Glass Salesman | 1 |
| Clerk | 1 |
| Cloth Weaver | 1 |
| Coach Maker (No Occ) | 1 |
| Cook (Dom Serv) | 1 |
| Cook Domestic | 1 |
| Cooper | 1 |
| Cotton Operative | 1 |
| Domestic Kitchenmaid | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Draper | 1 |
| Flax Dresser | 1 |
| Furrier | 1 |
| General Labourer | 1 |
| Genl Clerk | 1 |
| Genl Serv Dom | 1 |
| Genl Shopkeeper | 1 |
| Governor Farm School | 1 |
| Governor Wife | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| House Painter | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Dom) | 1 |
| Housewife | 1 |
| Infant | 1 |
| Iron Dresser | 1 |
| Labourers Wife | 1 |
| Licensed Victualler | 1 |
| Manager Fancy Shop | 1 |
| Master Tailor | 1 |
| Worsted Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 223 people were recorded with the Shee surname. That placed it at #11,998 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 65 in 2016. That gives Shee a modern rank of #34,017.
A surname derived from an Irish Gaelic word meaning "fairy" or "sprite".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Shee 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.