NameCensus.

UK surname

Shepard

An occupational surname referring to a guardian of sheep.

In the 1881 census there were 854 people recorded with the Shepard surname, ranking it #4,427 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 693, ranked #7,768, down from #4,427 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Newchurch and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Dorset, High Peak and Bexley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shepard is 1,040 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.9%.

1881 census count

854

Ranked #4,427

Modern count

693

2016, ranked #7,768

Peak year

1851

1,040 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shepard had 854 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,427 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 693 in 2016, ranked #7,768.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,040 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shepard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shepard surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shepard 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 1,040 #2,696
1861 historical 965 #2,888
1881 historical 854 #4,427
1891 historical 859 #4,770
1901 historical 804 #5,618
1911 historical 863 #5,145
1997 modern 551 #8,644
1998 modern 556 #8,853
1999 modern 573 #8,702
2000 modern 565 #8,761
2001 modern 540 #8,919
2002 modern 570 #8,740
2003 modern 556 #8,770
2004 modern 549 #8,878
2005 modern 558 #8,701
2006 modern 553 #8,775
2007 modern 565 #8,722
2008 modern 550 #8,965
2009 modern 577 #8,838
2010 modern 609 #8,686
2011 modern 570 #9,019
2012 modern 613 #8,463
2013 modern 655 #8,163
2014 modern 670 #8,060
2015 modern 679 #7,904
2016 modern 693 #7,768

Geography

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Where Shepards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Newchurch, St Pancras and Newport. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Dorset, High Peak, Bexley, Halton and West Dorset. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Newchurch Hampshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Newport Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
2 High Peak 011 High Peak
3 Bexley 008 Bexley
4 Halton 006 Halton
5 West Dorset 003 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shepard

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shepard

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Shepard, 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 Shepard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Shepard 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Shepard 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

Shepard 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

Shepard falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shepard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Shepard

The surname Shepard is of English origin and dates back to the Anglo-Saxon era. It is derived from the Old English word "sceaphierde," which means shepherd or sheep herder. This surname was originally an occupational name given to individuals who worked as shepherds, tending to and caring for flocks of sheep.

During the Middle Ages, shepherding was a crucial occupation, and the surname Shepard was commonly found in various regions of England. The earliest recorded instance of the name can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Scepeherde" and "Schepherde."

In the 13th century, the name was also documented in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire and Huntingdonshire as "Schephurd" and "Schephird." These variations in spelling reflect the evolution of the English language over time.

One notable individual bearing this surname was John Shepard, a prominent English clergyman born in 1512. He served as the Bishop of Bangor from 1551 to 1555 and played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation in England.

Another historical figure was Thomas Shepard, an English Puritan minister born in 1605. He emigrated to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1635 and became a prominent figure in the early colonial history of New England, serving as a minister in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

In the literary world, Thomas Shepard (1605-1649) was an influential Puritan minister and author who wrote several notable works, including "The Sound Believer" and "The Sincere Convert." His writings had a profound impact on Puritan theology and spirituality in colonial New England.

Alan Shepard (1923-1998), an American astronaut and naval aviator, made history as the first American to travel into space. He piloted the Freedom 7 mission in 1961, becoming the second person and the first American to achieve spaceflight.

Another notable individual was Saidiya Hartman, a renowned American author and scholar born in 1959. Her works, such as "Scenes of Subjection" and "Lose Your Mother," have significantly contributed to the fields of African American literature and cultural studies.

While the surname Shepard has its roots in the English language and occupation, it has since spread worldwide and can be found in various cultural contexts, reflecting the diverse histories and migrations of individuals bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shepard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shepard 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 142 Shepards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.71x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 142 1.71x
Yorkshire 124 1.51x
Hampshire 83 4.87x
Warwickshire 49 2.34x
Lancashire 47 0.48x
Surrey 42 1.04x
Shropshire 30 4.18x
Essex 26 1.58x
Gloucestershire 24 1.47x
Kent 24 0.85x
Nottinghamshire 22 1.96x
Dorset 20 3.67x
Midlothian 20 1.80x
Monmouthshire 17 2.83x
Devon 16 0.92x
Durham 15 0.61x
Staffordshire 14 0.50x
Sussex 11 0.79x
Derbyshire 10 0.77x
Northamptonshire 10 1.28x
Somerset 10 0.75x
Cornwall 9 0.96x
Lincolnshire 9 0.68x
Suffolk 9 0.89x
Worcestershire 9 0.83x
Glamorgan 8 0.55x
Hertfordshire 7 1.22x
Bedfordshire 6 1.39x
Ayrshire 5 0.80x
Buckinghamshire 5 1.00x
Channel Islands 4 1.62x
Herefordshire 4 1.17x
Westmorland 4 2.19x
Isle of Man 3 1.94x
Leicestershire 3 0.33x
Wiltshire 2 0.27x
Angus 1 0.13x
Berkshire 1 0.16x
Cardiganshire 1 0.49x
Cumberland 1 0.14x
Denbighshire 1 0.32x
Fife 1 0.20x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x
Norfolk 1 0.08x
Oxfordshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newport in Hampshire leads with 27 Shepards recorded in 1881 and an index of 292.21x.

Place Total Index
Newport 27 292.21x
St Pancras London 23 3.44x
Wellington 23 57.00x
Toxteth Park 21 6.29x
Bethnal Green London 16 4.43x
Todenham 16 1758.24x
Battersea 15 4.90x
Great Wolford 15 2272.73x
St Marylebone London 15 3.38x
Portsea 13 3.89x
North Bierley 12 26.98x
Paddington London 11 3.60x
Dunnington In York 10 473.93x
Waltham Holy Cross 10 65.23x
Deptford St Paul 9 4.11x
Kensington London 9 1.95x
Poplar London 9 5.74x
South Leith 9 7.18x
Aston 8 1.39x
Bedwellty 8 7.54x
Gateshead 8 4.32x
Hampstead London 8 6.18x
Spitalfields London 8 12.80x
West Ham 8 2.21x
Beighton 7 118.85x
Dorchester St Peter 7 177.22x
Egloshayle 7 158.73x
Halifax 7 5.79x
Lambeth 7 0.97x
Middlesbrough 7 6.53x
Northampton Priory St 7 14.92x
Sedgley 7 6.72x
Wimborne St Giles 7 542.64x
Burley In Wharfdale 6 82.53x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 6 1.34x
Frostenden 6 545.45x
Hackney London 6 1.29x
Horton In Bradford 6 4.67x
Hove 6 9.76x
Hunslet 6 4.67x
Midsomer Norton 6 47.62x
Newington 6 26.46x
Niton 6 263.16x
Oldbury 6 821.92x
Penarth 6 42.43x
South Crosland 6 69.20x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 3.59x
Stourton 6 1111.11x
Worsbrough 6 24.87x
Wuerdle Wardle 6 20.04x
Alne 5 357.14x
Barcheston 5 961.54x
Ecclesall Bierlow 5 2.98x
Hitchin 5 19.33x
Kelfield 5 510.20x
Laughton En Le Morthen 5 264.55x
Luton 5 6.71x
Lymington 5 39.94x
Moreton In Marsh 5 122.55x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.73x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 3.75x
Tormoham 5 6.83x
West Calder 5 22.78x
Wickersley 5 219.30x
Brighton 4 1.41x
Carisbrooke 4 16.91x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.04x
Hammersmith London 4 1.95x
Islington London 4 0.50x
Newton On Ayr 4 21.47x
Sedgwick 4 571.43x
Shipley 4 9.36x
Southampton St Mary 4 3.73x
St George Hanover 4 3.69x
St Giles In Fields 4 13.95x
St Helier 4 4.99x
St Woollos 4 5.97x
Sutton Under Brailes 4 769.23x
West Bromwich 4 2.49x
Canterbury St Mary 3 15.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 57
Sarah 34
Elizabeth 28
Emily 18
Ann 17
Jane 16
Alice 12
Emma 11
Harriet 11
Annie 9
Ellen 9
Fanny 9
Charlotte 7
Eliza 7
Kate 7
Clara 6
Florence 6
Frances 6
Margaret 6
Anne 5
Caroline 5
Hannah 5
Ada 4
Catherine 4
Amelia 3
Amy 3
Edith 3
Lousia 3
Martha 3
Rose 3
Susan 3
Beatrice 2
Bertha 2
Bessie 2
Betsy 2
Charlott 2
Eliz. 2
Esther 2
Eva 2
Harriett 2
Levina 2
Lilian 2
Lizzie 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Mina 2
Rachel 2
Rosa 2
Sophia 2
Zillah 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 54
John 39
Thomas 39
George 26
James 23
Joseph 23
Charles 18
Henry 10
Robert 10
Alfred 9
Edward 9
Richard 9
Albert 8
Edwin 8
Samuel 8
Arthur 7
Frank 6
Frederick 6
Harry 6
Fred 5
Benjamin 4
Fredrick 3
Herbert 3
Matthew 3
Walter 3
Daniel 2
David 2
Edmund 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Samson 2
Alexander 1
Aurthur 1
Benjaman 1
Christopher 1
Chs. 1
Cisil 1
Claude 1
Edwd. 1
Elijah 1
Ernest 1
Frances 1
Jabez 1
Jas. 1
Job 1
Jonas 1
Jonathan 1
Lee 1
Lenard 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Shepard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shepard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 854 people were recorded with the Shepard surname. That placed it at #4,427 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shepard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 693 in 2016. That gives Shepard a modern rank of #7,768.

What does the Shepard surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a guardian of sheep.

What does the Shepard map show?

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