NameCensus.

UK surname

Shelford

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "shallow ford" or "ford by a ledge".

In the 1881 census there were 265 people recorded with the Shelford surname, ranking it #10,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 279, ranked #15,534, down from #10,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Chesterford, Great, London parishes and Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire). In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Cambridgeshire, Stevenage and Kettering.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shelford is 355 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.3%.

1881 census count

265

Ranked #10,612

Modern count

279

2016, ranked #15,534

Peak year

1911

355 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shelford had 265 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 279 in 2016, ranked #15,534.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 355 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shelford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shelford surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shelford 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 252 #8,733
1861 historical 295 #8,555
1881 historical 265 #10,612
1891 historical 288 #11,450
1901 historical 308 #11,446
1911 historical 355 #10,172
1997 modern 308 #13,297
1998 modern 316 #13,424
1999 modern 318 #13,444
2000 modern 310 #13,618
2001 modern 294 #13,896
2002 modern 299 #14,017
2003 modern 297 #13,917
2004 modern 284 #14,377
2005 modern 282 #14,368
2006 modern 280 #14,535
2007 modern 272 #14,994
2008 modern 277 #14,940
2009 modern 283 #15,020
2010 modern 286 #15,231
2011 modern 278 #15,390
2012 modern 283 #15,115
2013 modern 293 #14,998
2014 modern 297 #14,943
2015 modern 295 #14,935
2016 modern 279 #15,534

Geography

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Where Shelfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Chesterford, Great, London parishes, Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire), St John Hackney and Stevenage. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Cambridgeshire, Stevenage, Kettering and North Somerset. 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 Chesterford, Great Essex
2 London parishes London 1
3 Pertenhall, Little Staughton, Bolnhurst (Riseley, Bedfordshire), Keysoe (Riseley, Bedfordshire) Huntingdonshire
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 Stevenage Hertfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Cambridgeshire 015 South Cambridgeshire
2 Stevenage 006 Stevenage
3 Kettering 011 Kettering
4 North Somerset 020 North Somerset
5 North Somerset 022 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shelford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shelford

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Shelford 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

Shelford 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

Shelford falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shelford 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Shelford

The surname SHELFORD has its origins in England, emerging during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from a place name, specifically a town or village called Shelford. The name itself is a combination of the Old English words "scylf" meaning a shelf or ledge, and "ford" referring to a shallow river crossing.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SHELFORD surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of England. The presence of the name in this document suggests that individuals bearing the SHELFORD surname had already established themselves in various parts of the country by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, variations in spelling were common, and the SHELFORD name appeared in various forms, including Shelforde, Sheliforde, and Shelforth. These spellings often reflected regional dialects and the preferences of scribes who recorded the name in official documents.

One notable individual with the SHELFORD surname was Sir Ralph de Shelford, who lived in the 13th century and was a prominent landowner in Nottinghamshire. He is mentioned in several historical records from that period, including land grants and legal transactions.

Another significant figure was William SHELFORD, born in 1571, who was a respected scholar and clergyman. He served as the Rector of Ickworth in Suffolk and was known for his writings on theology and philosophy.

In the 18th century, John SHELFORD (1726-1808) made a name for himself as a renowned botanist and naturalist. He was particularly interested in the study of fungi and published several influential works on the subject, including "A Treatise on the Culture of Parsnip and Carrot," which was widely read in agricultural circles.

The 19th century saw the emergence of Robert William Callis SHELFORD (1804-1882), a prominent lawyer and legal scholar. He authored several influential treatises on English law, including "A Practical Treatise on the Law Concerning Lunatics, Idiots, and Persons of Unsound Mind."

In more recent times, Sir Walter SHELFORD (1914-2000) was a distinguished British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to Spain from 1969 to 1973. He played a crucial role in strengthening diplomatic ties between the two nations during a period of political transition in Spain.

While these are just a few examples, the SHELFORD surname has a rich history spanning centuries, with its origins firmly rooted in the English countryside and its bearers contributing to various fields throughout the ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shelford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shelford 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 85 Shelfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.26x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 85 3.26x
Hertfordshire 36 20.05x
Essex 24 4.67x
Kent 17 1.91x
Bedfordshire 13 9.64x
Surrey 13 1.02x
Lancashire 11 0.36x
Lincolnshire 10 2.40x
Northamptonshire 10 4.08x
Huntingdonshire 9 17.40x
Leicestershire 9 3.12x
Buckinghamshire 7 4.45x
Cambridgeshire 6 3.64x
Warwickshire 5 0.76x
Yorkshire 5 0.19x
Sussex 3 0.68x
Somerset 2 0.48x
Gloucestershire 1 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 21 Shelfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.32x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 21 8.32x
Stevenage 18 647.48x
Bethnal Green London 14 12.37x
Great Chesterford 12 1481.48x
Hackney London 12 8.22x
Clapham 10 30.71x
Keysoe 10 1587.30x
Shoreditch London 9 7.97x
Spittlegate 9 156.25x
St Albans St Peter 9 148.51x
Huntingdon St Mary 8 620.16x
Princes Risborough 7 331.75x
Margate St John Baptist 6 36.88x
Market Harborough 6 458.02x
Brotton 5 148.37x
Evenley 5 1111.11x
Hindley 5 37.94x
Aston 4 2.21x
Chelsea London 4 5.10x
Datchworth 4 714.29x
Mile End Old Town 4 9.73x
West Derby 4 4.42x
Ashby Folville 3 2500.00x
Bromley London 3 5.24x
Clerkenwell London 3 4.88x
Great Easton 3 428.57x
Hythe St Leonard 3 95.54x
Lewisham 3 6.33x
Little Harrowden 3 405.41x
St Pancras London 3 1.43x
Ampthill 2 99.50x
Chislehurst 2 41.93x
Eastbourne 2 9.90x
Great Abington 2 800.00x
Hornsey 2 6.07x
Romford 2 24.60x
St Andrewthe Less 2 10.61x
St Luke London 2 4.79x
St Marylebone London 2 1.44x
Standon 2 108.11x
Taunton St James 2 32.73x
Wellingborough 2 16.23x
West Ham 2 1.76x
Aston 1 196.08x
Basford 1 6.18x
Battersea 1 1.04x
Bow London 1 3.02x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 1 2.08x
Broadwater 1 9.93x
Corringham 1 256.41x
Croydon 1 1.42x
Ealing 1 4.30x
Garston 1 10.96x
Great Bardfield 1 117.65x
Harpenden 1 36.50x
Hildersham 1 454.55x
Kensington London 1 0.69x
Layston 1 104.17x
Leyton Low 1 9.57x
Milton In Gravesend 1 7.50x
Newington 1 1.04x
Northfleet 1 12.77x
Orton Longville 1 434.78x
Paddington London 1 1.04x
Plumstead 1 3.38x
Poplar London 1 2.03x
Renhold 1 212.77x
Ropsley 1 172.41x
Saffron Walden 1 18.42x
Sawston 1 62.89x
Sutton Coldfield 1 14.49x
Toxteth Park 1 0.96x
Vange 1 714.29x
Westminster St John 1 3.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Sarah 14
Elizabeth 13
Emma 7
Alice 5
Florence 5
Harriet 5
Ann 4
Susan 4
Ada 3
Catherine 3
Charlotte 3
Emily 3
Fanny 3
Flora 3
Jane 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Annie 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Anne 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizth 1
Elzia 1
Emly 1
Flo 1
Francis 1
Georgiana 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Lilliase 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Margert 1
Margetta 1
Marie 1
Prudence 1
Rebecca 1
Sally 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 13
George 12
John 11
Henry 9
Alfred 7
Samuel 7
Joseph 6
Thomas 6
Isaac 5
James 5
Richard 5
Charles 4
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Leonard 3
Arthur 2
Fredrick 2
Thos. 2
Abraham 1
Adam 1
Albert 1
Ben 1
Bertram 1
Eli 1
Elias 1
Frank 1
Fredk. 1
Herbt.Harry 1
Jos. 1
Levi 1
Owen 1
Percy 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Shelford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shelford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 265 people were recorded with the Shelford surname. That placed it at #10,612 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shelford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 279 in 2016. That gives Shelford a modern rank of #15,534.

What does the Shelford surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "shallow ford" or "ford by a ledge".

What does the Shelford map show?

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