NameCensus.

UK surname

Shingler

An occupational surname referring to someone who constructed roofs with shingles or wooden tiles.

In the 1881 census there were 646 people recorded with the Shingler surname, ranking it #5,519 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,076, ranked #5,428, up from #5,519 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Prees and Draycott-in-the-Moors. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Halton and Stoke-on-Trent.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shingler is 1,124 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.6%.

1881 census count

646

Ranked #5,519

Modern count

1,076

2016, ranked #5,428

Peak year

2010

1,124 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shingler had 646 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,519 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,076 in 2016, ranked #5,428.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 928 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shingler surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shingler surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shingler 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 355 #6,654
1861 historical 454 #5,705
1881 historical 646 #5,519
1891 historical 750 #5,311
1901 historical 846 #5,379
1911 historical 928 #4,836
1997 modern 936 #5,787
1998 modern 1,066 #5,384
1999 modern 1,060 #5,437
2000 modern 1,078 #5,347
2001 modern 1,032 #5,447
2002 modern 1,050 #5,469
2003 modern 1,035 #5,444
2004 modern 1,052 #5,377
2005 modern 1,047 #5,347
2006 modern 1,048 #5,357
2007 modern 1,063 #5,329
2008 modern 1,097 #5,230
2009 modern 1,109 #5,293
2010 modern 1,124 #5,336
2011 modern 1,118 #5,308
2012 modern 1,078 #5,378
2013 modern 1,096 #5,390
2014 modern 1,083 #5,478
2015 modern 1,074 #5,456
2016 modern 1,076 #5,428

Geography

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Where Shinglers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Prees, Draycott-in-the-Moors, Broughton Astley, Croft and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Halton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire Moorlands and Warrington. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Prees Shropshire
3 Draycott-in-the-Moors Staffordshire
4 Broughton Astley, Croft Leicestershire
5 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 010 Shropshire
2 Halton 013 Halton
3 Stoke-on-Trent 014 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Staffordshire Moorlands 013 Staffordshire Moorlands
5 Warrington 017 Warrington

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shingler

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shingler

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Shingler is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shingler is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shingler 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 Shingler is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Shingler

The surname Shingler is an English occupational name that originated in the late medieval period. It derives from the Old English word 'scingel', meaning a wooden roof shingle or tile. The name refers to a person who made or laid wooden shingles on roofs.

The earliest known recording of the Shingler surname dates back to the 13th century in Yorkshire, England. In 1279, a Roger le Shingler was mentioned in the Wakefield Court Rolls. This suggests the name was well-established in northern England by that time.

During the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings such as Shyngylmaker, Schynglere, and Shyngillere, reflecting the regional dialects and phonetic variations common in that era. The name Shinglerton, indicating someone from a place associated with shinglers, also emerged around 1379 in Lancashire records.

The Shingler surname is notably absent from the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, indicating it likely arose after the Norman Conquest as a specialized trade or occupation. However, it is found in several early tax and census records from the 13th to 16th centuries across northern counties like Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire.

One of the earliest documented Shinglers was John Shyngylmaker, who lived in York in the late 14th century. In 1524, a William Shingleton was recorded as a landowner in the village of Warton, Lancashire. Another notable figure was Robert Shingler, a prominent merchant and alderman in Chester who died in 1588.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Shingler name spread across England, with some families settling in London and other urban areas. Thomas Shingler (1639-1708) was a respected lawyer and judge in London, while James Shingler (1730-1799) was a renowned architect who designed several churches and public buildings in Yorkshire.

As the industrial revolution took hold, many Shinglers transitioned from traditional roofing trades to work in emerging industries like coal mining and textile manufacturing. By the 19th century, the surname had become well-dispersed throughout the British Isles and beyond, with some families emigrating to North America, Australia, and other parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shingler families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shingler 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. Staffordshire leads with 222 Shinglers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.44x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 222 10.44x
Shropshire 129 23.70x
Cheshire 67 4.82x
Lancashire 61 0.82x
Warwickshire 38 2.39x
Leicestershire 36 5.15x
Middlesex 20 0.32x
Yorkshire 15 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 14 1.65x
Essex 8 0.64x
Surrey 7 0.23x
Northumberland 5 0.53x
Kent 4 0.19x
Derbyshire 3 0.30x
Hertfordshire 3 0.69x
Flintshire 2 1.18x
Renfrewshire 2 0.41x
Sussex 2 0.19x
Worcestershire 2 0.24x
Berkshire 1 0.21x
Denbighshire 1 0.42x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Lincolnshire 1 0.10x
Norfolk 1 0.10x
Rutland 1 2.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 82 Shinglers recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.35x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 82 36.35x
Runcorn 39 121.61x
Prees 26 392.16x
Leicester St Margaret 20 11.74x
Wolverhampton 20 12.23x
Draycott In Moors 18 2045.45x
Birmingham 17 3.21x
Everton 17 7.13x
Aston 15 3.43x
Middle 13 872.48x
Much Wenlock 13 258.96x
Norton Canes 13 167.74x
Trentham 11 60.81x
Broughton Astley 10 653.59x
Cheadle 10 97.85x
Kirkleatham 10 118.62x
Leek Lowe 10 35.34x
Barton Upon Irwell 9 15.99x
Checkley 9 163.04x
Madeley 9 45.09x
Manchester 9 2.68x
Nottingham St Mary 9 4.10x
Cannock 8 21.55x
Chester St Oswald 8 31.76x
Crowton 8 800.00x
West Ham 8 2.91x
Pendleton In Salford 7 7.86x
Stone 7 25.73x
Bridgnorth St Mary 6 112.99x
Goostrey Cum Barnshaw 6 759.49x
Salford 6 2.73x
Shenstone 6 110.91x
Withington 6 1071.43x
Dawley 5 25.24x
Ellesmere 5 53.48x
Islington London 5 0.82x
Kensington London 5 1.43x
St Marylebone London 5 1.49x
Westgate 5 8.61x
Bermondsey 4 2.13x
Chetton 4 373.83x
Kings Bromley 4 327.87x
Kingswinford 4 5.18x
Posenhall 4 6666.67x
Toxteth Park 4 1.58x
Wellington 4 13.07x
West Bromwich 4 3.28x
Wincham 4 156.25x
Worksop 4 15.88x
Benthall 3 309.28x
Brewood 3 48.94x
Bushey 3 29.01x
Deptford St Paul 3 1.81x
Edgbaston 3 6.09x
Huddersfield 3 3.30x
Meole Brace 3 106.38x
Selattyn 3 121.46x
Shrewsbury St Mary 3 13.97x
Baschurch 2 53.62x
Brereton Cum Smethwick 2 151.52x
Cardington 2 161.29x
Cathcart 2 7.57x
Coleshill 2 39.29x
Countesthorpe 2 84.03x
Fulstone 2 43.76x
Kenley 2 425.53x
Kings Norton 2 2.71x
Loppington 2 172.41x
Middleton In Oldham 2 8.92x
Mile End Old Town 2 2.01x
Preston Gubbals 2 217.39x
Rodington 2 232.56x
Walton On Hill 2 4.94x
Willenhall 2 5.02x
Wolstanton 2 3.10x
Wrockwardine 2 16.71x
Great Dunham 1 117.65x
Hulme 1 0.64x
Shareshill Hilton 1 117.65x
St Luke London 1 0.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 50
Elizabeth 33
Sarah 30
Ann 18
Alice 12
Emma 10
Hannah 10
Jane 10
Martha 9
Eliza 8
Ellen 8
Emily 8
Annie 7
Fanny 6
Margaret 6
Anne 5
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Elizth. 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Ethel 2
Gertrude 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Miria 2
Rose 2
Amy 1
Bertha 1
Catherine 1
Edna 1
Elinor 1
Elisabeth 1
Emme 1
H. 1
Harriett 1
Hellen 1
Henrietta 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Janet 1
Julia 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 43
William 42
George 31
Thomas 28
James 18
Edward 16
Samuel 15
Charles 12
Joseph 12
Richard 10
Alfred 6
Hugh 6
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Philip 5
Henry 4
Peter 4
Ambrose 3
Edwin 3
Harry 3
David 2
Frank 2
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Herbert 2
Stephen 2
Auther 1
Christopher 1
Davd.T. 1
Edmund 1
Eliza 1
Enos 1
Ephraim 1
Ernest 1
Frederic 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Fredk.Wm. 1
Geo.Edwin 1
Hy. 1
Iaiah 1
Isaac 1
J.Henry 1
Job 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Mathew 1
Nicholas 1
Oswald 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Shingler surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shingler surname in 1881?

In 1881, 646 people were recorded with the Shingler surname. That placed it at #5,519 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shingler surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,076 in 2016. That gives Shingler a modern rank of #5,428.

What does the Shingler surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who constructed roofs with shingles or wooden tiles.

What does the Shingler map show?

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