NameCensus.

UK surname

Sheerin

A surname denoting someone living near a quarry or place where stones were excavated.

In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Sheerin surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 727, ranked #7,484, up from #28,715 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Edinburgh and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, IZ21 and Cheltenham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sheerin is 744 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1977.1%.

1881 census count

35

Ranked #28,715

Modern count

727

2016, ranked #7,484

Peak year

2014

744 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sheerin had 35 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,715 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 727 in 2016, ranked #7,484.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 128 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Sheerin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sheerin surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sheerin 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 17 #30,267
1861 historical 25 #30,804
1881 historical 35 #28,715
1891 historical 96 #24,559
1901 historical 128 #19,822
1911 historical 85 #24,322
1997 modern 663 #7,554
1998 modern 678 #7,665
1999 modern 694 #7,567
2000 modern 699 #7,499
2001 modern 675 #7,569
2002 modern 700 #7,511
2003 modern 686 #7,505
2004 modern 693 #7,463
2005 modern 680 #7,516
2006 modern 687 #7,479
2007 modern 698 #7,432
2008 modern 704 #7,450
2009 modern 708 #7,577
2010 modern 733 #7,504
2011 modern 725 #7,499
2012 modern 698 #7,626
2013 modern 728 #7,510
2014 modern 744 #7,432
2015 modern 731 #7,474
2016 modern 727 #7,484

Geography

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Where Sheerins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Edinburgh, Manchester, Glasgow and Cadder. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, IZ21, Cheltenham and Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Cadder Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 012 Rochdale
2 IZ21 East Lothian
3 Rochdale 017 Rochdale
4 Cheltenham 006 Cheltenham
5 Redcar and Cleveland 022 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sheerin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sheerin

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Sheerin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Sheerin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sheerin is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Sheerin 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

Sheerin falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sheerin 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Sheerin

The surname Sheerin has its origins in Ireland, with the earliest recorded examples dating back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Gaelic word "sìthean," which means "fairy mound" or "hill of the fairies." This suggests that the name was originally given to someone who lived near or was associated with a fairy mound or hill.

The name Sheerin can be traced back to County Cavan in Ulster, where it was particularly prevalent. It is believed to have originated in the Baronies of Cavan and Loughtee, where several townlands and placenames contain variations of the name, such as Sheerinagh and Sheerinclone.

In the Annals of Ulster, a historical chronicle of medieval Ireland, there are references to individuals with the surname Sheerin as early as the late 16th century. One notable entry from 1597 mentions a "Donell O'Sherin" who was involved in a conflict with the English forces in Ulster.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Sheerin was Patrick Sheerin, who was born in County Cavan around 1650. He was a prominent landowner and is mentioned in the Hearth Money Rolls of 1665, a tax record of the time.

Another notable figure was James Sheerin (1745-1817), a merchant and shipowner from Belfast who played a significant role in the city's economic growth during the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

In the 19th century, a branch of the Sheerin family settled in County Tyrone, where John Sheerin (1824-1901) became a prominent figure in the local community. He served as a magistrate and was actively involved in the development of the town of Dungannon.

The name Sheerin also appears in historical records related to the Irish diaspora. One example is Michael Sheerin (1855-1924), who emigrated from Ireland to the United States and became a successful businessman and politician in New York City.

Throughout its history, the surname Sheerin has been associated with various occupations, including landowners, merchants, politicians, and community leaders, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sheerin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sheerin 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. Lancashire leads with 13 Sheerins recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.12x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 13 3.12x
Midlothian 12 25.51x
Gloucestershire 5 7.26x
Middlesex 2 0.57x
Cheshire 1 1.29x
Lanarkshire 1 0.88x
Royal Navy 1 23.92x
Yorkshire 1 0.29x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. South Leith in Midlothian leads with 8 Sheerins recorded in 1881 and an index of 151.23x.

Place Total Index
South Leith 8 151.23x
Manchester 7 37.35x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 77.16x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 75.53x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 21.13x
Brightside Bierlow 1 14.66x
Govan 1 3.56x
Liverpool 1 3.95x
Rope 1 10000.00x
Royal Navy 1 27.93x
St Clement Danes 1 175.44x
St Pancras London 1 3.54x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 3
Ann 2
Elizabeth 2
Ada 1
Bessie 1
Catherine 1
Flora 1
Hannah 1
Phoebe 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Patrick 3
Bryan 1
Geo. 1
George 1
James 1
John 1
Martin 1
Michael 1

Top occupations

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 Sheerin households.

FAQ

Sheerin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sheerin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Sheerin surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sheerin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 727 in 2016. That gives Sheerin a modern rank of #7,484.

What does the Sheerin surname mean?

A surname denoting someone living near a quarry or place where stones were excavated.

What does the Sheerin map show?

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