UK surname
An English surname derived from the occupation of a shepherd or sheep herder.
In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Shepphard surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 66, ranked #33,948, down from #22,893 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Hull Holy Trinity and Ham, East. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shepphard is 144 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 12.0%.
1881 census count
75
Ranked #22,893
Modern count
66
2016, ranked #33,948
Peak year
1911
144 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Shepphard surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Shepphard surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 62 | #22,232 |
| 1861 | historical | 85 | #22,922 |
| 1881 | historical | 75 | #22,893 |
| 1891 | historical | 109 | #22,701 |
| 1901 | historical | 98 | #23,119 |
| 1911 | historical | 144 | #18,325 |
| 1997 | modern | 70 | #30,618 |
| 1998 | modern | 70 | #30,968 |
| 1999 | modern | 68 | #31,311 |
| 2000 | modern | 71 | #31,082 |
| 2001 | modern | 66 | #31,394 |
| 2002 | modern | 67 | #31,723 |
| 2003 | modern | 63 | #32,152 |
| 2004 | modern | 60 | #32,684 |
| 2005 | modern | 63 | #32,602 |
| 2006 | modern | 69 | #32,343 |
| 2007 | modern | 69 | #32,662 |
| 2008 | modern | 75 | #32,373 |
| 2009 | modern | 73 | #32,923 |
| 2010 | modern | 74 | #33,167 |
| 2011 | modern | 73 | #33,230 |
| 2012 | modern | 68 | #33,763 |
| 2013 | modern | 65 | #34,059 |
| 2014 | modern | 67 | #33,959 |
| 2015 | modern | 66 | #33,976 |
| 2016 | modern | 66 | #33,948 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Hull Holy Trinity, Ham, East, Leamington Priors and St Woollos (incl. Newport). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) | Glamorganshire |
| 2 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 3 | Ham, East | Essex |
| 4 | Leamington Priors | Warwickshire |
| 5 | St Woollos (incl. Newport) | Monmouthshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Shepphard surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Shepphard, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Shepphard surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Shepphard household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Shepphard is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shepphard is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Shepphard, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Shepphard is of English origin, derived from the occupational name "shepherd," which referred to someone who tended sheep. The name can be traced back to the 13th century, with early spellings including Schepherde and Scheperde.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Shepphard is found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, where a Robert le Schepherde is mentioned. This indicates that the surname was in use during the medieval period in England.
The name Shepphard is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, the great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror. Here, it is recorded as Scepeherde, reflecting the Old English roots of the name.
During the 14th century, the surname Shepphard appeared in various records across England, including the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where a Johannes Shephird is listed.
Notable individuals with the surname Shepphard throughout history include:
1. Sir John Shepphard (c. 1515-1589), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Reigate during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
2. William Shepphard (c. 1594-1675), an English clergyman and author, known for his work "The Faithful Shepherd" published in 1638.
3. Thomas Shepphard (1605-1658), an English composer and organist who served at the Chapel Royal during the reign of King Charles I.
4. Jane Shepphard (1643-1717), a renowned English herbalist and author of the book "The Family Herbal" published in 1686.
5. John Shepphard (1702-1768), an English landscape architect and garden designer, responsible for the design of several notable estates in the 18th century.
The name Shepphard has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Shepphard's Bush in Kent and Shepphard's Green in Hertfordshire, reflecting the occupational roots of the surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shepphard surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 18 Shepphards recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.43x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 18 | 2.43x |
| Surrey | 11 | 3.05x |
| Yorkshire | 7 | 0.95x |
| Monmouthshire | 6 | 11.20x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 5.01x |
| Buckinghamshire | 4 | 8.93x |
| Devon | 3 | 1.94x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.34x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 1.61x |
| Glamorgan | 2 | 1.55x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 1.69x |
| Oxfordshire | 2 | 4.37x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 3.12x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 2.22x |
| Caithness | 1 | 9.85x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.86x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.91x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 11.33x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.84x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.80x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bermondsey in Surrey leads with 7 Shepphards recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.73x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bermondsey | 7 | 31.73x |
| Hackney London | 7 | 16.85x |
| Marshfield | 6 | 4615.38x |
| Bethnal Green London | 5 | 15.53x |
| Drypool | 5 | 446.43x |
| Seer Green | 4 | 5000.00x |
| Battersea | 3 | 11.00x |
| Exeter Heavitree | 3 | 260.87x |
| Leamington Priors | 3 | 65.22x |
| Lenton | 3 | 127.66x |
| Paddington London | 3 | 11.01x |
| Lowestoft | 2 | 46.95x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 2 | 7.74x |
| Oxford St Thomas | 2 | 93.46x |
| Salford | 2 | 7.73x |
| Wellington | 2 | 55.56x |
| Ystradyfodwg | 2 | 17.67x |
| Brightside Bierlow | 1 | 6.94x |
| Bromley London | 1 | 6.13x |
| Great Grimsby | 1 | 13.30x |
| Horsham | 1 | 41.15x |
| Latheron | 1 | 58.82x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 1.87x |
| Morpeth | 1 | 76.92x |
| Newington | 1 | 49.51x |
| Newington | 1 | 3.65x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 13.25x |
| Scotter | 1 | 370.37x |
| South Normanton | 1 | 121.95x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 10.34x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 1.68x |
| Walcot | 1 | 15.75x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Shepphard surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Shepphard surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Shepphard households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 10 |
| Gen Lab | 3 |
| Lace Maker | 2 |
| Saddler Harness Maker | 2 |
| Bead Worker | 1 |
| Boiler Maker | 1 |
| Bootmaker | 1 |
| Builder Empls 200 Men | 1 |
| Charcoal Maker | 1 |
| Clark | 1 |
| Coach Smith & Toll Gate Keeper | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Comb Maker | 1 |
| Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Drapers Assistant | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engine Cleaner (Other Ry) | 1 |
| Fancy Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Fisherman | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Genl Domes Serv | 1 |
| Haberdasher | 1 |
| Journeyman Baker | 1 |
| Laborer | 1 |
| Labourer | 1 |
| Lace Mender | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Lodging House Keeper | 1 |
| Mangler | 1 |
| Parlourmaid (Domestic) | 1 |
| Sergeant R A | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Ship Steward | 1 |
| Smack Owner Employing 8 Men 9 Boys | 1 |
| Tailoress | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Shepphard surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 66 in 2016. That gives Shepphard a modern rank of #33,948.
An English surname derived from the occupation of a shepherd or sheep herder.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Shepphard bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.