NameCensus.

UK surname

Shiells

In the 1881 census there were 197 people recorded with the Shiells surname, ranking it #12,955 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 295, ranked #14,915, down from #12,955 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Haddington, Melrose and Chirnside. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Northamptonshire, Northumberland and Eyemouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shiells is 316 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.7%.

1881 census count

197

Ranked #12,955

Modern count

295

2016, ranked #14,915

Peak year

1998

316 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shiells had 197 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,955 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 295 in 2016, ranked #14,915.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 242 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Shiells surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shiells surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Shiells 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 106 #16,512
1861 historical 153 #15,032
1881 historical 197 #12,955
1891 historical 242 #13,048
1901 historical 193 #15,469
1911 historical 62 #26,622
1997 modern 304 #13,409
1998 modern 316 #13,424
1999 modern 301 #13,926
2000 modern 291 #14,200
2001 modern 288 #14,103
2002 modern 295 #14,146
2003 modern 293 #14,037
2004 modern 289 #14,219
2005 modern 286 #14,242
2006 modern 289 #14,234
2007 modern 284 #14,548
2008 modern 291 #14,430
2009 modern 288 #14,838
2010 modern 287 #15,195
2011 modern 287 #15,044
2012 modern 279 #15,289
2013 modern 287 #15,224
2014 modern 289 #15,251
2015 modern 294 #14,971
2016 modern 295 #14,915

Geography

Back to top

Where Shiells' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Haddington, Melrose, Chirnside, Govan Combination and Mains and Strathmartine. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Northamptonshire, Northumberland, Eyemouth and Renfrewshire Rural North and Langbank. 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 Haddington Haddington
2 Melrose Roxburgh
3 Chirnside Berwick
4 Govan Combination Lanark
5 Mains and Strathmartine Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Northamptonshire 003 East Northamptonshire
2 Northumberland 002 Northumberland
3 Eyemouth Scottish Borders
4 Renfrewshire Rural North and Langbank Renfrewshire
5 Northumberland 001 Northumberland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Shiells

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Shiells

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Shiells is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Shiells 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

Shiells falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

1881 census detail

Back to top

Shiells families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shiells 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. Midlothian leads with 61 Shiells' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.44x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 61 24.44x
Angus 28 16.22x
East Lothian 25 101.30x
Middlesex 17 0.91x
Roxburghshire 14 41.49x
Northumberland 10 3.61x
Kent 7 1.10x
Peeblesshire 5 57.08x
Perthshire 5 5.98x
Lanarkshire 4 0.66x
Buteshire 3 26.57x
Berwickshire 2 8.87x
Cheshire 2 0.49x
Fife 2 1.81x
West Lothian 2 7.13x
Dumfriesshire 1 2.43x
Durham 1 0.18x
Lancashire 1 0.05x
Surrey 1 0.11x

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 27 Shiells' recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.89x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 27 26.89x
Dundee 14 21.73x
Melrose 14 479.45x
Strathmartine 9 1168.83x
Chelsea London 8 14.25x
Black Callerton 7 7000.00x
St Martin In Fields 7 62.78x
Athelstaneford 6 1224.49x
Edinburgh Greenside S 6 666.67x
Haddington 6 164.84x
South Leith 6 21.37x
Carrington 5 1282.05x
Deptford St Paul 5 10.20x
Eassie Nevay 5 1388.89x
Errol 5 322.58x
Peebles 5 193.05x
Pencaitland 5 714.29x
Liberton 4 103.90x
Newbattle 4 187.79x
Rothesay 3 54.84x
Dirleton 2 206.19x
Dunse 2 93.46x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 2 33.90x
Forgan 2 94.79x
Garvald 2 408.16x
Govan 2 1.34x
Livingstone 2 208.33x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 2 42.28x
Prestonpans 2 121.21x
Whittonstall 2 2000.00x
Barony 1 0.66x
Beckenham 1 12.03x
Chatham 1 5.72x
Currie 1 65.36x
Duddingston 1 19.96x
Edinburgh Canongate 1 15.75x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 20.62x
Hamilton 1 5.95x
Jesmond 1 25.64x
Moffat 1 53.19x
Morham 1 769.23x
North Leith 1 8.66x
Ratho 1 86.21x
Sedgefield 1 50.51x
St Giles In Fields 1 15.55x
St Marylebone London 1 1.01x
Stow 1 78.13x
Sutton 1 15.22x
Walton On Hill 1 8.35x
Yester 1 169.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Eleanor 2
Rosina 2
Agnes 1
Catherine 1
Clara 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Honorah 1
Isabella 1
Marion 1
Minnie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
Alexander 2
George 2
William 2
Andrew 1
Charles 1
David 1
Donald 1
Henry 1
James 1
Robert 1

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 Shiells households.

FAQ

Shiells surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shiells surname in 1881?

In 1881, 197 people were recorded with the Shiells surname. That placed it at #12,955 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shiells surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 295 in 2016. That gives Shiells a modern rank of #14,915.

What does the Shiells map show?

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