NameCensus.

UK surname

Shepperson

An occupational surname derived from the Old English term "sceaphierde" meaning shepherd.

In the 1881 census there were 265 people recorded with the Shepperson surname, ranking it #10,612 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 347, ranked #13,259, down from #10,612 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Doddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gedling, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shepperson is 393 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.9%.

1881 census count

265

Ranked #10,612

Modern count

347

2016, ranked #13,259

Peak year

1999

393 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shepperson had 265 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,612 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 347 in 2016, ranked #13,259.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 358 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shepperson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shepperson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shepperson 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 162 #12,215
1861 historical 220 #11,076
1881 historical 265 #10,612
1891 historical 278 #11,746
1901 historical 358 #10,269
1911 historical 357 #10,132
1997 modern 369 #11,690
1998 modern 382 #11,779
1999 modern 393 #11,602
2000 modern 391 #11,591
2001 modern 380 #11,660
2002 modern 384 #11,794
2003 modern 379 #11,714
2004 modern 371 #11,914
2005 modern 353 #12,292
2006 modern 351 #12,420
2007 modern 363 #12,255
2008 modern 349 #12,723
2009 modern 354 #12,858
2010 modern 368 #12,750
2011 modern 356 #12,943
2012 modern 350 #12,965
2013 modern 355 #13,045
2014 modern 357 #13,068
2015 modern 349 #13,189
2016 modern 347 #13,259

Geography

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Where Sheppersons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Doddington, Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) and Bingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gedling, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Fenland and Amber Valley. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Doddington Cambridgeshire
4 Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) Cambridgeshire
5 Bingham Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gedling 012 Gedling
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 008 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 Fenland 008 Fenland
4 Amber Valley 004 Amber Valley
5 Gedling 014 Gedling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shepperson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shepperson

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Shepperson is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Shepperson is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shepperson 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 Shepperson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Shepperson

The surname Shepperson has its origins traced back to England, specifically in the northern counties. It emerged during the late medieval period, around the 13th to 15th centuries. The name is believed to be an occupational surname, derived from the Old English words "sceap" meaning sheep, and "hierde" meaning herd or shepherd. Thus, Shepperson essentially means "the son of a shepherd."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1297, where a Robert Shephirdesone is mentioned. The surname also appears in various other historical records from that era, such as the Pipe Rolls, the Hundred Rolls, and the Feet of Fines.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name was John Shepperson, who was recorded as a landowner in the village of Seacroft, near Leeds, Yorkshire. His name is mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, dated around 1350.

During the 16th century, the surname underwent some variations in spelling, appearing as Shepperdsonne, Shepperdson, and Sheppardson in various parish registers and census records. One notable individual from this period was William Shepperson, a merchant and alderman of the city of York, who lived from around 1520 to 1585.

Moving into the 17th century, the name continued to be prevalent in northern England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Northumberland, and Durham. A prominent figure was Sir Thomas Shepperson (1590-1658), a wealthy landowner and justice of the peace in the North Riding of Yorkshire.

In the 18th century, the Shepperson family had established themselves as part of the landed gentry in various parts of northern England. One noteworthy individual was John Shepperson (1725-1795), a renowned botanist and naturalist from Durham, who made significant contributions to the study of flora and fauna in the region.

As the name spread throughout England and beyond, it also underwent various spellings and variations, such as Shepardson, Sheperson, and Shepperstone, among others. However, the core meaning and origin of the name remained firmly rooted in its occupational association with shepherds and sheep herding.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shepperson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shepperson 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 76 Sheppersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.42x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 76 46.42x
Nottinghamshire 49 14.06x
Huntingdonshire 39 75.99x
Middlesex 19 0.74x
Lincolnshire 17 4.11x
Derbyshire 14 3.46x
Devon 9 1.67x
Surrey 6 0.48x
Warwickshire 6 0.92x
Yorkshire 6 0.23x
Norfolk 5 1.26x
Essex 4 0.78x
Hertfordshire 3 1.68x
Northamptonshire 3 1.23x
Durham 2 0.26x
Leicestershire 2 0.70x
Somerset 2 0.48x
Sussex 2 0.46x
Cheshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Benwick in Cambridgeshire leads with 28 Sheppersons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3888.89x.

Place Total Index
Benwick 28 3888.89x
March 20 364.96x
Ramsey 19 462.29x
Whittlesey St Mary St 18 314.69x
Bingham 12 810.81x
St Pancras London 10 4.81x
Wistow 10 2857.14x
Shirland 9 297.03x
Threckingham Swaton 8 3200.00x
Hucknall Torkard 7 79.28x
Nottingham St Mary 7 7.77x
Birmingham 6 2.76x
Carlton 6 150.75x
Clerkenwell London 6 9.83x
Nottingham St Nicholas 6 126.32x
Surfleet 6 697.67x
Basford 5 31.13x
Battersea 5 5.26x
Harberton 5 406.50x
Belper 4 50.96x
Godmanchester 4 206.19x
St Giles Cambridge 4 189.57x
West Ham 4 3.55x
Wisbech St Peter 4 48.72x
Bovingdon 3 322.58x
Dawlish 3 74.81x
Holy Trinity 3 4.87x
Standard Hill 3 361.45x
Yaxley 3 250.00x
Chatteris 2 47.85x
Clifford Cum Boston 2 86.96x
Lenton 2 24.36x
Norwich St Helen 2 408.16x
Woodford 2 148.15x
Bathhampton 1 277.78x
Brighton 1 1.14x
Bromley London 1 1.76x
Cockington 1 312.50x
Cottingham 1 18.12x
Deeping St Nicholas 1 82.64x
Denton 1 208.33x
Derby St Alkmund 1 8.24x
Downham Market 1 36.63x
Emneth 1 112.36x
Great Paxton 1 434.78x
Great Raveley 1 555.56x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 1 3.00x
Islington London 1 0.40x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 1 8.38x
Kirton 1 60.24x
Lockington 1 666.67x
Loughborough 1 7.69x
Peterborough 1 5.68x
Radcliffe On Trent 1 204.08x
South Bersted 1 26.95x
South Shields 1 14.60x
St George Hanover 1 2.96x
Stilton 1 172.41x
Walcot 1 4.51x
Walgherton 1 666.67x
Wandsworth 1 4.02x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 11
Mary 10
Elizabeth 8
Emma 6
Jane 6
Martha 5
Clara 4
Eliza 4
Florence 4
Agnes 3
Alice 3
Amy 3
Ann 3
Annie 3
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Emily 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Ada 2
Betsy 2
E. 2
Hannah 2
Harriett 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Susannah 2
Anne 1
Catherhine 1
Charlotte 1
Dorothy 1
Edie 1
Emmeline 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Hester 1
Julian 1
Kathleen 1
Lydia 1
M. 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
Metty 1
Zillah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
William 13
Thomas 10
Joseph 9
Henry 8
George 7
James 6
Robert 5
Samuel 5
Alfred 4
Charles 4
Harry 4
Tom 3
Arthur 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Allen 1
Andrew 1
Benjamin 1
C.A. 1
Chas.W. 1
E. 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Herb.Heny 1
Herbert 1
Hezekiah 1
J. 1
Jerald 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Ralph 1
Stafford 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
W. 1
Willie 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Shepperson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shepperson surname in 1881?

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

How common is the Shepperson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 347 in 2016. That gives Shepperson a modern rank of #13,259.

What does the Shepperson surname mean?

An occupational surname derived from the Old English term "sceaphierde" meaning shepherd.

What does the Shepperson map show?

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