NameCensus.

UK surname

Sheers

An occupational surname referring to one who sheared cloth or sheep.

In the 1881 census there were 115 people recorded with the Sheers surname, ranking it #18,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 129, ranked #26,270, down from #18,230 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Romsey, St Leonard Shoreditch and St Mary Stratford-le-Bow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sunderland, Cornwall and Powys.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sheers is 141 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 12.2%.

1881 census count

115

Ranked #18,230

Modern count

129

2016, ranked #26,270

Peak year

1851

141 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sheers had 115 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,230 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016, ranked #26,270.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 141 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Sheers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sheers surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sheers 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 141 #13,507
1861 historical 117 #18,635
1881 historical 115 #18,230
1891 historical 122 #21,053
1901 historical 104 #22,310
1911 historical 111 #21,392
1997 modern 135 #22,499
1998 modern 139 #22,720
1999 modern 136 #23,186
2000 modern 138 #22,960
2001 modern 137 #22,740
2002 modern 131 #23,793
2003 modern 130 #23,672
2004 modern 123 #24,679
2005 modern 113 #25,974
2006 modern 114 #26,120
2007 modern 113 #26,641
2008 modern 111 #27,225
2009 modern 112 #27,685
2010 modern 118 #27,404
2011 modern 108 #28,811
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 117 #27,838
2014 modern 126 #26,781
2015 modern 128 #26,356
2016 modern 129 #26,270

Geography

Back to top

Where Sheers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Romsey, St Leonard Shoreditch, St Mary Stratford-le-Bow, Camborne and Dalton-in-Furness. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sunderland, Cornwall, Powys and Herefordshire. 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 Romsey Hampshire
2 St Leonard Shoreditch London (East Districts)
3 St Mary Stratford-le-Bow London (East Districts)
4 Camborne Cornwall
5 Dalton-in-Furness Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sunderland 035 Sunderland
2 Cornwall 051 Cornwall
3 Powys 011 Powys
4 Herefordshire 006 Herefordshire, County of
5 Herefordshire 007 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sheers

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sheers

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sheers, 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 Sheers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Sheers 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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Sheers is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Sheers is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sheers falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sheers 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 Sheers, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sheers

The surname Sheers has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. The name is primarily geographical or topographical, derived from the Old English word "scir", meaning "bright" or "boundary", which often referred to people living near a prominent district boundary or clear, bright area. This term evolved through Middle English to form surnames reflecting geographical features.

Sheers first appeared in historical records in the 12th and 13th centuries. Variations of this surname were found in old records such as the tax rolls called the Subsidy Rolls, and even earlier references might be seen in deeds and manorial records. The Domesday Book of 1086, although not listing Sheers specifically, is an example of the kind of record that might include early forms of surnames.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname is Roger de Shire, listed in the Lincolnshire tax records of 1192. This form indicates the usage of the term scir and its connection to geographical markers. Another form, Sheeres, was found in the Poll Tax records of Yorkshire in 1379, highlighting the slight spelling variations over time.

Several notable individuals bear the surname Sheers. Edward Sheers, born in 1526, was a distinguished figure in the court of King Henry VIII, serving as a courtier and land surveyor. Another notable Sheers was Robert Sheers, a merchant and alderman in early 17th century London, born in 1577 and playing a significant role in the city's trade and commerce.

Moving into more recent history, Owen Sheers, the contemporary Welsh poet, playwright, and novelist born in 1974, has made a name for himself in the literary world, winning numerous awards for his works. His prominence has brought renewed attention to the surname in cultural circles.

The Sheers surname also has historical connections to place names. One such example is the village of Sheer in Surrey, England, which might have contributed to the surname's origin. This linkage is often observed in old English surnames that draw from geographical locations.

In summary, the surname Sheers is rooted in English topography, evolving from Old English and Middle English terms related to brightness or boundaries. Historical records like tax rolls and deeds document its presence from the medieval period, with numerous noted individuals carrying the name throughout history. The variations in spelling and association with specific regions highlight the rich and intricate history of the Sheers surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sheers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sheers 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. Middlesex leads with 34 Sheers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.03x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 34 3.03x
Lancashire 21 1.58x
Warwickshire 11 3.89x
Devon 9 3.85x
Herefordshire 8 17.39x
Surrey 8 1.46x
Yorkshire 7 0.63x
Cheshire 4 1.62x
Cornwall 4 3.15x
Kent 4 1.05x
Hampshire 3 1.30x
Wiltshire 1 1.01x
Worcestershire 1 0.68x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barrow In Furness in Lancashire leads with 15 Sheers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 82.87x.

Place Total Index
Barrow In Furness 15 82.87x
Leamington Priors 11 158.05x
Shoreditch London 10 20.56x
Bethnal Green London 8 16.42x
Bow London 7 49.02x
Pembridge 7 1372.55x
Leeds 5 7.97x
Liverpool 5 6.18x
Plymouth Charles The 5 48.59x
Orlestone 4 2500.00x
St Paul Covent Garden 4 357.14x
Bermondsey 3 8.98x
Camborne 3 57.36x
Kinderton Cum Hulme 3 1428.57x
Portsea 3 6.66x
Croydon 2 6.59x
Culmstock 2 606.06x
Isleworth 2 40.08x
Sculcoates 2 11.35x
Tormoham 2 20.24x
Westminster St John 2 14.64x
Birkenhead 1 5.07x
Britford 1 151.52x
Crumpsall 1 31.85x
Eardisley 1 303.03x
Kingston On Thames 1 7.62x
Liskeard 1 46.95x
Newington 1 2.41x
St George Hanover 1 6.83x
Walton On Thames 1 39.84x
Worcester St Helen 1 212.77x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
George 7
Thomas 6
James 4
Henry 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
John 2
T. 2
A. 1
Arthur 1
C. 1
Charles 1
Edmund 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Jim 1
Joseph 1
Moses 1
Rickwell 1
Saml. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Sheers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sheers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 115 people were recorded with the Sheers surname. That placed it at #18,230 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sheers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 129 in 2016. That gives Sheers a modern rank of #26,270.

What does the Sheers surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to one who sheared cloth or sheep.

What does the Sheers map show?

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