NameCensus.

UK surname

Shiell

A surname derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "sìol" meaning "offspring" or "descendants."

In the 1881 census there were 262 people recorded with the Shiell surname, ranking it #10,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 238, ranked #17,361, down from #10,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Chirnside, Gateshead and Lauder. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Selkirk, Broughton North and Powderhall and Tweeddale East Area.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shiell is 291 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.2%.

1881 census count

262

Ranked #10,721

Modern count

238

2016, ranked #17,361

Peak year

1901

291 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shiell had 262 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016, ranked #17,361.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 291 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Shiell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shiell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shiell 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 166 #11,986
1861 historical 204 #11,814
1881 historical 262 #10,721
1891 historical 283 #11,573
1901 historical 291 #11,893
1911 historical 161 #17,072
1997 modern 262 #14,814
1998 modern 281 #14,506
1999 modern 264 #15,223
2000 modern 269 #14,983
2001 modern 247 #15,637
2002 modern 248 #15,896
2003 modern 254 #15,454
2004 modern 243 #16,004
2005 modern 227 #16,730
2006 modern 237 #16,334
2007 modern 233 #16,752
2008 modern 228 #17,146
2009 modern 242 #16,789
2010 modern 248 #16,886
2011 modern 249 #16,684
2012 modern 242 #16,886
2013 modern 248 #16,877
2014 modern 244 #17,189
2015 modern 243 #17,141
2016 modern 238 #17,361

Geography

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Where Shiells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Chirnside, Gateshead, Lauder, Eddleston and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Selkirk, Broughton North and Powderhall, Tweeddale East Area, Northumberland and Lewes. 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 Chirnside Berwick
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Lauder Berwick
4 Eddleston Peebles
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Selkirk Scottish Borders
2 Broughton North and Powderhall City of Edinburgh
3 Tweeddale East Area Scottish Borders
4 Northumberland 010 Northumberland
5 Lewes 005 Lewes

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shiell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shiell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Shiell, 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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Shiell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Shiell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Shiell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Shiell is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shiell falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Shiell

The surname SHIELL is believed to have originated in Scotland, with records indicating its presence as early as the 16th century. It is likely derived from the Gaelic word "sìol," which means "seed" or "offspring," suggesting a connection to a family or clan lineage.

One of the earliest known references to the name SHIELL can be found in the records of the parish of Rathven, Banffshire, Scotland, where a person named John Shiell was listed as a tenant farmer in 1597. This provides evidence of the name's existence and usage in the region during that time period.

In the 17th century, the SHIELL surname appeared in various documents and records across Scotland. For instance, in 1642, a Robert Shiell was mentioned as a resident of the town of Dunfermline, Fife. Additionally, a John Shiell was recorded as a landowner in the parish of Cullen, Banffshire, in 1670.

As the centuries progressed, the SHIELL name continued to be associated with various individuals and families across Scotland. One notable figure was James Shiell (1773-1853), a Scottish minister and author who served as the minister of the parish of Kirkmichael, Ayrshire, for over 50 years.

Another prominent individual bearing the SHIELL surname was Sir John Shiell (1840-1913), a Scottish businessman and politician who served as a member of parliament for the Aberdeen District from 1892 to 1906. He was also involved in the shipping and fishing industries.

In the 19th century, the SHIELL name was also found in other parts of the United Kingdom. For example, Thomas Shiell (1828-1895) was an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Surgeons and the Savoy Theatre.

While the SHIELL surname is predominantly associated with Scotland, it has also been found in various other regions and countries over the centuries, potentially due to migration and the spread of families. However, the earliest known records and historical references suggest a strong connection to the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shiell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shiell 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. Berwickshire leads with 38 Shiells recorded in 1881 and an index of 136.30x.

County Total Index
Berwickshire 38 136.30x
Midlothian 29 9.40x
East Lothian 27 88.55x
Peeblesshire 26 240.07x
Northumberland 20 5.84x
Middlesex 18 0.78x
Roxburghshire 17 40.77x
Durham 16 2.34x
Angus 13 6.10x
Selkirkshire 7 33.61x
Buckinghamshire 6 4.31x
Lancashire 4 0.15x
Norfolk 4 1.13x
Yorkshire 3 0.13x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.37x
Dorset 1 0.66x
Fife 1 0.73x
Hampshire 1 0.21x
Kent 1 0.13x
Staffordshire 1 0.13x
Sussex 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 20 Shiells recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.12x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 20 16.12x
Swinton 16 2105.26x
Brechin 10 119.33x
Eddleston 10 1785.71x
Innerleithen 10 348.43x
Berwick Upon Tweed 9 123.97x
Shoreditch London 9 9.02x
Spott 9 1956.52x
Lauder 7 454.55x
Melrose 7 133.59x
Chirnside 6 504.20x
Gateshead 6 11.70x
Great Marlow 6 159.57x
Peebles 6 187.50x
Seghill 6 357.14x
Chester Le Street 5 95.06x
Dirleton 5 416.67x
Dunse 5 189.39x
Gladsmuir 5 367.65x
Jedburgh 5 122.25x
South Leith 5 14.41x
Westoe 5 12.88x
Garvald 4 666.67x
Gordon 4 606.06x
Hownam 4 1904.76x
Mile End Old Town 4 11.01x
Minto 4 1176.47x
Ringstead 4 1111.11x
Alnwick 3 50.93x
Horton In Bradford 3 8.42x
Liff Benvie 3 9.27x
Yester 3 410.96x
Great Crosby 2 26.85x
Hawick 2 21.44x
Inveresk 2 23.95x
March 2 40.98x
St Luke London 2 5.42x
St Pancras London 2 1.08x
Stitchel 2 740.74x
Aldershot 1 6.33x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.68x
Berwick North 1 46.73x
Byker 1 5.91x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 15.63x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 16.67x
Hove 1 5.87x
Liverpool 1 0.60x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 4.89x
Ratcliffe London 1 7.87x
Sevenoaks 1 15.70x
Sherborne 1 22.47x
St Andrews 1 16.13x
Stafford St Mary 1 9.09x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Jessie 4
Margaret 4
Martha 3
Mary 3
Amelia 2
Florence 2
Sarah 2
Agnes 1
Alice 1
Ann 1
Cecilia 1
Dora 1
Eliza 1
Elizbeth 1
Francis 1
Helen 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1
Janet 1
Lucy 1
Maggie 1
Marion 1
Maude 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
William 6
James 5
David 3
George 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Robson 2
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Bertie 1
Frederic 1
Herbert 1
Matthew 1
Thomas 1
W.D. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Shiell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shiell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 262 people were recorded with the Shiell surname. That placed it at #10,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shiell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 238 in 2016. That gives Shiell a modern rank of #17,361.

What does the Shiell surname mean?

A surname derived from the Scottish Gaelic word "sìol" meaning "offspring" or "descendants."

What does the Shiell map show?

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