NameCensus.

UK surname

Sheppard

An occupational surname referring to someone who herded or tended sheep.

In the 1881 census there were 10,341 people recorded with the Sheppard surname, ranking it #415 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 15,484, ranked #407, up from #415 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Philip and Jacob. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire and Bristol.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sheppard is 16,115 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.7%.

1881 census count

10,341

Ranked #415

Modern count

15,484

2016, ranked #407

Peak year

1999

16,115 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sheppard had 10,341 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #415 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 15,484 in 2016, ranked #407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 13,808 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sheppard surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sheppard surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sheppard 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 7,091 #395
1861 historical 6,633 #421
1881 historical 10,341 #415
1891 historical 10,382 #424
1901 historical 12,402 #423
1911 historical 13,808 #354
1997 modern 15,434 #393
1998 modern 16,035 #392
1999 modern 16,115 #394
2000 modern 15,998 #395
2001 modern 15,691 #393
2002 modern 16,034 #391
2003 modern 15,516 #395
2004 modern 15,523 #394
2005 modern 15,177 #398
2006 modern 15,051 #403
2007 modern 15,141 #404
2008 modern 15,171 #406
2009 modern 15,555 #404
2010 modern 15,857 #404
2011 modern 15,604 #406
2012 modern 15,284 #405
2013 modern 15,687 #406
2014 modern 15,787 #405
2015 modern 15,598 #407
2016 modern 15,484 #407

Geography

Back to top

Where Sheppards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Philip and Jacob and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, South Gloucestershire and Bristol. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Philip and Jacob Gloucestershire
5 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 027 Wiltshire
2 South Gloucestershire 026 South Gloucestershire
3 Bristol 044 Bristol, City of
4 Wiltshire 040 Wiltshire
5 South Gloucestershire 028 South Gloucestershire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sheppard

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sheppard

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Sheppard is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sheppard 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

Sheppard 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 Sheppard 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 Sheppard, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sheppard

The surname Sheppard originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "sceaphyrde," meaning "shepherd" or one who tended and herded sheep. This name was given to individuals who worked as shepherds or owned large flocks of sheep.

The earliest known record of the surname Sheppard dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appeared as "Scepard" and "Scepeord." These early spellings highlight the evolution of the name from its Old English roots. The name was also found in various medieval records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1192, where it was spelled "Schepehird."

In the 13th century, the surname Sheppard was also associated with certain place names. For example, the village of Sheppard's Green in Essex was recorded as "Schepherdesgrene" in 1258, indicating a connection between the surname and a specific location.

Historically, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname Sheppard. One of the earliest was Thomas Sheppard (c. 1369-1432), an English clergyman who served as Bishop of Bangor and later as Bishop of St Asaph. Another prominent figure was William Sheppard (1594-1675), an English composer and musician who served as a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal during the reign of King Charles I.

During the 17th century, John Sheppard (1616-1665) was a renowned English architect who designed several churches in London, including St. Bride's Church on Fleet Street. In the realm of literature, Thomas Sheppard (1605-1658) was an English writer and poet who published works such as "The Faerie King" and "The Hermetick Romance."

In the 18th century, John Sheppard (1702-1724), also known as "Jack Sheppard," gained notoriety as a famous English burglar and escape artist. His daring prison breaks and exploits were widely publicized, and he became a folk hero of sorts.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who bore the surname Sheppard throughout history, reflecting the name's deep roots in English society and its association with various professions and backgrounds.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sheppard families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sheppard 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 1,498 Sheppards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.48x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,498 1.48x
Surrey 871 1.77x
Wiltshire 859 9.60x
Somerset 767 4.71x
Gloucestershire 721 3.63x
Hampshire 483 2.33x
Yorkshire 455 0.45x
Kent 412 1.19x
Lancashire 397 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 376 2.76x
Suffolk 336 2.73x
Sussex 320 1.88x
Derbyshire 256 1.62x
Warwickshire 255 1.00x
Staffordshire 230 0.67x
Worcestershire 198 1.50x
Berkshire 185 2.44x
Dorset 168 2.53x
Monmouthshire 148 2.02x
Devon 145 0.69x
Glamorgan 133 0.75x
Essex 118 0.59x
Hertfordshire 114 1.63x
Oxfordshire 110 1.76x
Northamptonshire 84 0.88x
Buckinghamshire 77 1.26x
Durham 76 0.25x
Leicestershire 60 0.53x
Cheshire 56 0.25x
Lincolnshire 55 0.34x
Shropshire 54 0.62x
Bedfordshire 41 0.78x
Norfolk 40 0.26x
Northumberland 30 0.20x
Midlothian 29 0.21x
Lanarkshire 27 0.08x
Channel Islands 26 0.87x
Herefordshire 22 0.53x
Cambridgeshire 19 0.30x
Royal Navy 17 1.41x
Brecknockshire 14 0.69x
Fife 14 0.23x
Ayrshire 12 0.16x
Cornwall 12 0.10x
Pembrokeshire 12 0.37x
Perthshire 11 0.24x
Angus 7 0.07x
Cumberland 7 0.08x
Berwickshire 4 0.33x
Isle of Man 3 0.16x
Rutland 2 0.27x
Stirlingshire 2 0.05x
Anglesey 1 0.06x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.12x
Denbighshire 1 0.03x
Flintshire 1 0.04x
Radnorshire 1 0.12x

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 193 Sheppards recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.97x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 193 1.97x
Lambeth 189 2.14x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 152 8.13x
Camberwell 135 2.09x
Mangotsfield 108 54.60x
Bethnal Green London 101 2.30x
Bristol St George 94 10.24x
Shoreditch London 94 2.14x
Birmingham 93 1.09x
Nottingham St Mary 91 2.58x
Brighton 90 2.61x
Hackney London 84 1.48x
Bradford On Avon 81 28.27x
Kensington London 80 1.42x
St Pancras London 77 0.95x
Chelsea London 71 2.33x
Glossop Dale 70 9.44x
Battersea 68 1.83x
Mile End Old Town 65 4.07x
Bedminster 63 4.12x
Portsea 63 1.55x
St George Hanover 60 4.54x
Newington 56 1.50x
Figheldean 55 342.25x
Bromley London 54 2.43x
Stapleton 54 14.34x
St Marylebone London 53 0.98x
Salisbury St Edmund 52 36.20x
Walcot 52 5.99x
Newark Upon Trent 51 10.40x
Aston 49 0.70x
Croydon 49 1.79x
Lewisham 49 2.66x
West Bromwich 49 2.51x
Southampton St Mary 47 3.60x
Cheltenham 41 2.68x
Clerkenwell London 40 1.67x
Deptford St Paul 40 1.50x
Lyncombe Widcombe 40 9.38x
Hammersmith London 39 1.56x
Dudley 38 2.37x
Greenwich 38 2.36x
Mere 37 36.40x
Salford 37 1.05x
Frome 36 9.24x
Paddington London 36 0.97x
West Ham 36 0.82x
Ystradyfodwg 36 2.33x
Ealing 35 3.87x
Reading St Giles 34 4.56x
Alverstoke 33 4.40x
Midsomer Norton 33 21.51x
Bere Regis 31 69.71x
Hornsey 31 2.42x
Ipswich St Margaret 31 7.41x
Southwark St George Martyr 31 1.52x
Westminster St John 31 2.52x
Ipswich St Clement 30 9.58x
Liverpool 30 0.41x
Westbury On Trym 29 4.31x
Ecclesall Bierlow 28 1.37x
Horsington 28 107.78x
Taunton St Mary 28 9.36x
Trowbridge 28 7.08x
Westminster St James 28 2.69x
Corsham 26 19.91x
Fisherton Anger 26 15.70x
Keynsham 26 22.23x
Weston Super Mare 26 6.32x
Winterslow 26 86.58x
Car Colston 25 260.69x
Heston 25 7.44x
Mansfield Woodhouse 25 27.55x
Southwark Christchurch 25 5.27x
Stoke Upon Trent 25 0.69x
Boldre 24 32.30x
Limehouse London 24 2.16x
Devizes St James 23 19.34x
Kingston On Thames 23 1.94x
Snenton 23 4.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 600
Elizabeth 396
Sarah 379
Ann 183
Eliza 177
Alice 170
Emma 170
Jane 170
Annie 154
Ellen 153
Emily 149
Louisa 92
Martha 88
Florence 84
Kate 76
Caroline 75
Fanny 74
Hannah 74
Maria 74
Charlotte 72
Ada 67
Edith 64
Harriet 64
Harriett 63
Lucy 53
Margaret 49
Frances 46
Amelia 45
Anne 45
Clara 41
Matilda 37
Susan 34
Esther 33
Julia 33
Rose 31
Agnes 30
Catherine 29
Selina 29
Amy 27
Minnie 24
Isabella 20
Jessie 20
Rebecca 20
Sophia 20
Anna 19
Gertrude 19
Elizth. 18
Ruth 18
Ethel 17
Maud 16

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 639
John 462
George 387
James 278
Thomas 266
Henry 265
Charles 234
Joseph 156
Alfred 136
Edward 127
Frederick 123
Arthur 111
Samuel 99
Richard 92
Walter 92
Robert 90
Albert 86
Frank 63
Harry 61
Francis 50
Herbert 50
Ernest 49
Edwin 38
David 32
Wm. 32
Sidney 26
Isaac 25
Stephen 24
Benjamin 23
Fred 23
Thos. 20
Daniel 18
Geo. 17
Fredk. 16
Tom 15
Percy 14
Edmund 12
Alexander 10
Mark 10
Willm. 10
Edgar 9
Job 9
Oliver 9
Sydney 9
Ralph 8
Aaron 7
Jacob 7
Josiah 7
Matthew 7
Willie 7

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 Sheppard households.

FAQ

Sheppard surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sheppard surname in 1881?

In 1881, 10,341 people were recorded with the Sheppard surname. That placed it at #415 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sheppard surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 15,484 in 2016. That gives Sheppard a modern rank of #407.

What does the Sheppard surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who herded or tended sheep.

What does the Sheppard map show?

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