NameCensus.

UK surname

Shiels

A Scottish surname thought to derive from the medieval personal name Shiel or Shield.

In the 1881 census there were 710 people recorded with the Shiels surname, ranking it #5,119 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,521, ranked #4,068, up from #5,119 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Melrose, Govan Combination and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Johnstone South East, Burnley and Laighstonehall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shiels is 1,592 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 114.2%.

1881 census count

710

Ranked #5,119

Modern count

1,521

2016, ranked #4,068

Peak year

2010

1,592 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shiels had 710 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,119 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,521 in 2016, ranked #4,068.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 790 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Shiels surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shiels surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shiels 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 491 #5,090
1861 historical 550 #4,785
1881 historical 710 #5,119
1891 historical 698 #5,614
1901 historical 790 #5,701
1911 historical 289 #11,738
1997 modern 1,445 #4,038
1998 modern 1,484 #4,093
1999 modern 1,509 #4,056
2000 modern 1,500 #4,067
2001 modern 1,456 #4,087
2002 modern 1,513 #4,042
2003 modern 1,484 #4,038
2004 modern 1,488 #4,035
2005 modern 1,464 #4,039
2006 modern 1,480 #4,015
2007 modern 1,489 #4,025
2008 modern 1,509 #4,010
2009 modern 1,547 #4,004
2010 modern 1,592 #3,970
2011 modern 1,545 #4,043
2012 modern 1,485 #4,126
2013 modern 1,534 #4,069
2014 modern 1,550 #4,051
2015 modern 1,539 #4,032
2016 modern 1,521 #4,068

Geography

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Where Shiels' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Melrose, Govan Combination, Gateshead, London parishes and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Johnstone South East, Burnley, Laighstonehall, Newcastle upon Tyne and Balloch West. 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 Melrose Roxburgh
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Gateshead Durham
4 London parishes London 3
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Johnstone South East Renfrewshire
2 Burnley 004 Burnley
3 Laighstonehall South Lanarkshire
4 Newcastle upon Tyne 015 Newcastle upon Tyne
5 Balloch West North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shiels

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shiels

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Shiels surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Shiels household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Shiels is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shiels is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shiels falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shiels 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Shiels

The surname Shiels originated in Scotland, with the earliest records dating back to the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "scyl," meaning "shelter" or "dwelling," suggesting that the name may have referred to someone who lived near a shielding or sheltered area.

The name is closely related to the Scottish placename "Shiel," which refers to a small hut or temporary dwelling used by shepherds or hunters in remote areas. This connection implies that the Shiels surname may have been initially bestowed upon individuals associated with such dwellings or those who lived in isolated regions.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland from 1358, where a person named William Shele is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time.

The Shiels surname has been present in various historical records, including the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland from the 16th century. Notable individuals bearing this surname include Sir George Shiels (1620-1672), a Scottish lawyer and politician who served as Lord Advocate of Scotland.

Another prominent figure was Archibald Shiels (1675-1742), a Scottish minister and author who wrote several theological works. In the literary realm, Robert Shiels (1675-1753) was a Scottish playwright and biographer known for his play "The Life of the Reverend Mr. George Wishart."

The name also made its way to Ireland, where James Shiels (1828-1909) was a prominent Irish nationalist and Member of Parliament for the Cavan Borough constituency from 1874 to 1880.

In the realm of sports, Alec Shiels (1879-1957) was a Scottish professional footballer who played for various clubs, including Rangers F.C. and Falkirk F.C., in the early 20th century.

While the Shiels surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, with notable individuals bearing the name in various fields, including politics, literature, and sports.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shiels families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shiels 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 250 Shiels' recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.14x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 250 27.14x
Lancashire 85 1.04x
Selkirkshire 61 98.04x
Lanarkshire 56 2.52x
Northumberland 41 4.01x
East Lothian 36 39.52x
Berwickshire 28 33.62x
Durham 14 0.68x
Middlesex 14 0.20x
Roxburghshire 14 11.24x
Dunbartonshire 13 7.03x
Yorkshire 13 0.19x
Fife 9 2.21x
Stirlingshire 9 3.55x
Kent 7 0.30x
Cheshire 6 0.40x
Cumberland 5 0.84x
Hertfordshire 5 1.05x
Renfrewshire 5 0.94x
Staffordshire 5 0.22x
Surrey 5 0.15x
West Lothian 5 4.83x
Essex 4 0.29x
Buteshire 3 7.20x
Peeblesshire 3 9.27x
Perthshire 3 0.97x
Angus 1 0.16x
Ayrshire 1 0.19x
Devon 1 0.07x
Dorset 1 0.22x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.66x
Royal Navy 1 1.22x

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 98 Shiels' recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.44x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 98 26.44x
Melrose 31 197.96x
Liverpool 29 5.85x
Galashiels 24 104.35x
North Leith 21 49.25x
South Leith 17 16.40x
Currie 14 248.23x
Govan 13 2.36x
Tweedmouth 13 101.88x
West Derby 12 5.03x
Manchester 11 3.00x
Chirnside 10 280.11x
Stow 10 210.97x
Wakefield 10 19.11x
Barony 9 1.60x
Inveresk 9 36.09x
Lasswade 9 42.74x
Wigan 9 7.89x
Berwick Upon Tweed 8 36.90x
Mordington 8 930.23x
Channelkirk 7 489.51x
Cowpen 7 29.71x
Edinburgh St Marys 7 39.08x
Glasgow 7 1.77x
Gorbals 7 53.03x
Haddington 7 52.04x
Kirkcaldy 7 34.67x
New Monkland 7 10.65x
Polmont 7 74.79x
Prestonkirk 7 153.51x
Temple 7 191.26x
Toxteth Park 7 2.53x
Borthwick 6 145.63x
Edinburgh Greenside S 6 179.64x
Edinburgh St Georges 6 31.38x
Grindon 6 740.74x
Kelso 6 48.35x
New Kilpatrick 6 34.13x
Westgate 6 9.47x
Whittinghame 6 397.35x
Bengeo 5 90.91x
Blantyre 5 21.60x
Edinburgh Canongate 5 21.32x
Edinburgh Old Church 5 67.57x
Lewisham 5 4.00x
Maryhill 5 11.48x
Pencaitland 5 192.31x
Reddish 5 44.48x
Row 5 20.91x
Shoreditch London 5 1.68x
Stafford St Mary 5 15.22x
Barton Upon Irwell 4 6.51x
Birkenhead 4 3.31x
Edinburgh Greenside 4 32.87x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 4 62.70x
Edinburgh New 4 55.87x
Gateshead 4 2.61x
Kirkliston 4 66.23x
Kirknewton East 4 103.90x
Melrose 4 37.14x
Stow 4 444.44x
Whitehaven 4 12.67x
Colchester St Giles 3 22.37x
Dunbar 3 23.49x
Edinburgh New North 3 37.41x
Elswick 3 3.67x
Nether Hallam 3 3.25x
Perth West Church 3 20.48x
Pittington 3 52.17x
Rothesay 3 14.87x
St Boswells 3 132.74x
Whitekirk Tynninghame 3 120.48x
Bonhill 2 6.74x
Dirleton 2 55.87x
Edinburgh St Andrews 2 26.28x
Erskine 2 51.68x
Eyemouth 2 28.78x
Selkirk 2 11.41x
St Marylebone London 2 0.54x
Tranmere 2 3.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Margaret 11
Elizabeth 8
Sarah 6
Agnes 5
Jane 5
Ellen 4
Isabella 4
Catherine 3
Clara 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Bridget 2
Emma 2
Jessie 2
Marian 2
Theresa 2
Ada 1
Agness 1
Alice 1
Amy 1
An 1
Anne 1
Christiana 1
Christina 1
Dane 1
Eleanor 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Floss 1
Francis 1
Georgina 1
Hannah 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Janet 1
Janett 1
Kate 1
Lavinia 1
M.E. 1
Marcella 1
Marshale 1
Rachel 1
Roseanna 1
Selina 1
Sophia 1
Williamina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
James 11
Patrick 10
William 7
Alexander 5
Joseph 4
Daniel 3
Edward 3
Henry 3
Peter 3
Alfred 2
Charles 2
David 2
Matthew 2
Michael 2
Wm. 2
A.A. 1
A.D.S. 1
Alexdr. 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
George 1
Graham 1
Martin 1
Paul 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Thomas 1

FAQ

Shiels surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shiels surname in 1881?

In 1881, 710 people were recorded with the Shiels surname. That placed it at #5,119 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shiels surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,521 in 2016. That gives Shiels a modern rank of #4,068.

What does the Shiels surname mean?

A Scottish surname thought to derive from the medieval personal name Shiel or Shield.

What does the Shiels map show?

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