NameCensus.

UK surname

Sherfield

A habitational surname referring to someone from Sher(e) field, a village in Hampshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 44 people recorded with the Sherfield surname, ranking it #27,447 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 118, ranked #27,873, down from #27,447 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bentley, Bishop's Sutton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Test Valley, Winchester and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sherfield is 147 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 168.2%.

1881 census count

44

Ranked #27,447

Modern count

118

2016, ranked #27,873

Peak year

2002

147 bearers

Map years

5

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sherfield had 44 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #27,447 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016, ranked #27,873.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 104 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sherfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sherfield surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sherfield 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 21 #29,550
1861 historical 89 #22,419
1881 historical 44 #27,447
1891 historical 73 #27,677
1901 historical 104 #22,310
1911 historical 101 #22,589
1997 modern 122 #23,917
1998 modern 130 #23,603
1999 modern 135 #23,279
2000 modern 137 #23,048
2001 modern 139 #22,541
2002 modern 147 #22,197
2003 modern 133 #23,359
2004 modern 133 #23,528
2005 modern 134 #23,406
2006 modern 135 #23,486
2007 modern 135 #23,824
2008 modern 138 #23,763
2009 modern 140 #24,033
2010 modern 129 #25,900
2011 modern 129 #25,673
2012 modern 131 #25,439
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 124 #27,049
2015 modern 116 #28,151
2016 modern 118 #27,873

Geography

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Where Sherfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bentley, Bishop's Sutton, London parishes, Alton and Whitchurch. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Test Valley, Winchester, Cornwall and East Hampshire. 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 Bentley Hampshire
2 Bishop's Sutton Hampshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Alton Hampshire
5 Whitchurch Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Test Valley 009 Test Valley
2 Winchester 011 Winchester
3 Cornwall 061 Cornwall
4 East Hampshire 001 East Hampshire
5 Winchester 004 Winchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sherfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sherfield

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Sherfield is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Sherfield is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sherfield falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sherfield 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 Sherfield, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sherfield

The surname SHERFIELD is an English locational name derived from the place name Sherfield, which can be found in several locations across England. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "scir" meaning bright, and "feld" meaning field, collectively translating to "bright field."

The earliest recorded instance of the SHERFIELD surname dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Scirfeld" in Hampshire. This suggests that the name's origins can be traced back to the late 11th century, possibly even earlier.

In the 13th century, records show variations of the name such as "Shirefeld" and "Shyrfeld," indicating the evolution of the spelling over time. One notable individual from this era was John de Shirefeld, a landowner mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Berkshire in 1275.

By the 16th century, the spelling had largely settled to its current form, "SHERFIELD." During this period, the name was particularly prominent in Hampshire and Berkshire, where several families with the SHERFIELD surname held land and property. Sir Thomas Sherfield (1517-1578) was a notable figure, serving as the Sheriff of Hampshire in 1569.

In the 17th century, the SHERFIELD name gained recognition through individuals like Richard Sherfield (1611-1689), a prominent London merchant and benefactor who endowed the prestigious Sherfield Scholarships at the University of Oxford.

The 18th century saw the rise of Henry Sherfield (1739-1811), a member of the British Parliament and an influential figure in the abolition of the slave trade. His advocacy and speeches in the House of Commons played a crucial role in the eventual abolition of slavery in the British Empire.

Throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, several notable individuals carrying the SHERFIELD surname made their mark in various fields. These include Charles Sherfield (1824-1901), a renowned botanist and horticulturist, and Emily Sherfield (1867-1943), a pioneering female engineer who worked on early aviation projects.

While the SHERFIELD surname has its roots firmly planted in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, carried by individuals who emigrated from the British Isles over the centuries. Today, the name can be found in various countries, continuing its rich historical legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sherfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sherfield 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. Hertfordshire leads with 19 Sherfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 64.23x.

County Total Index
Hertfordshire 19 64.23x
Hampshire 10 11.37x
Middlesex 4 0.93x
Northumberland 4 6.26x
Berkshire 3 9.31x
Suffolk 3 5.74x
Surrey 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Abbots Langley in Hertfordshire leads with 11 Sherfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.

Place Total Index
Abbots Langley 11 2500.00x
Hemel Hempstead 8 601.50x
Alton 7 1060.61x
Berwick Upon Tweed 4 296.30x
Lowestoft 3 121.46x
South Mimms 3 508.47x
Reading St Mary 2 77.52x
Farnham 1 61.35x
Kilmiston 1 3333.33x
Medstead 1 1428.57x
Millbrook 1 45.05x
St George Hanover 1 17.86x
West Swallowfield 1 666.67x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

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 Sherfield households.

FAQ

Sherfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sherfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 44 people were recorded with the Sherfield surname. That placed it at #27,447 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sherfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 118 in 2016. That gives Sherfield a modern rank of #27,873.

What does the Sherfield surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to someone from Sher(e) field, a village in Hampshire, England.

What does the Sherfield map show?

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