NameCensus.

UK surname

Shingles

A surname possibly derived from the Old English word "scingl" meaning roof covering or wooden roof tiles.

In the 1881 census there were 317 people recorded with the Shingles surname, ranking it #9,359 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 287, ranked #15,212, down from #9,359 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, London parishes and Stranton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Northamptonshire, Forest of Dean and Great Yarmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shingles is 442 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.5%.

1881 census count

317

Ranked #9,359

Modern count

287

2016, ranked #15,212

Peak year

1911

442 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shingles had 317 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,359 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 287 in 2016, ranked #15,212.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 442 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shingles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shingles surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shingles 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 151 #12,840
1861 historical 188 #12,628
1881 historical 317 #9,359
1891 historical 320 #10,546
1901 historical 328 #10,943
1911 historical 442 #8,625
1997 modern 291 #13,792
1998 modern 288 #14,249
1999 modern 284 #14,474
2000 modern 277 #14,688
2001 modern 273 #14,614
2002 modern 283 #14,559
2003 modern 281 #14,443
2004 modern 281 #14,489
2005 modern 278 #14,511
2006 modern 285 #14,361
2007 modern 288 #14,428
2008 modern 277 #14,940
2009 modern 278 #15,230
2010 modern 275 #15,673
2011 modern 295 #14,758
2012 modern 290 #14,838
2013 modern 284 #15,358
2014 modern 284 #15,455
2015 modern 287 #15,235
2016 modern 287 #15,212

Geography

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Where Shingles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, London parishes, Stranton, Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos and Arminghall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Northamptonshire, Forest of Dean, Great Yarmouth and Broadland. 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 Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean Monmouthshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Stranton Durham
4 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk
5 Arminghall Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Northamptonshire 002 East Northamptonshire
2 Forest of Dean 008 Forest of Dean
3 Forest of Dean 007 Forest of Dean
4 Great Yarmouth 002 Great Yarmouth
5 Broadland 014 Broadland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shingles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shingles

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

Shingles is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shingles 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 Shingles 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 Shingles, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Shingles

The surname "Shingles" is of Anglo-Saxon origin, tracing its roots back to the early medieval period in England. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "scingel," which referred to a wooden roof tile or shingle used for covering buildings.

This connection to the building trade suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname, given to someone who worked as a shingle maker or roofer. Alternatively, it could have been a topographic surname, referring to someone who lived near a shingled building or in an area known for shingle production.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Berkshire in 1230, which mention a William Shingles. The Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279 also contain a reference to a Richard Shingles.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, variations of the spelling included "Shyngyll," "Shingill," and "Schyngyll." These early forms highlight the name's evolution from its Old English origins.

In the 15th century, the Shingles surname appeared in various records across England. John Shingles was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1443, while a Thomas Shingles was recorded in the Calendar of the Patent Rolls in 1465.

Notable historical figures bearing the Shingles surname include:

1. William Shingles (c. 1560-1628), an English clergyman and author from Lincolnshire. 2. Josiah Shingles (1655-1712), a prominent Quaker minister and writer from Cheshire. 3. Elizabeth Shingles (1683-1752), an English landowner and philanthropist from Hertfordshire. 4. John Shingles (1737-1808), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. 5. Thomas Shingles (1790-1867), a Scottish surgeon and author known for his work on medical education reform.

Several place names in England, such as Shinglesford in Oxfordshire and Shinglehall in Suffolk, may have derived their names from the Shingles surname or vice versa, further reflecting the name's long-standing presence in the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shingles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shingles 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. Norfolk leads with 127 Shingles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.71x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 127 26.71x
Middlesex 43 1.39x
Surrey 34 2.26x
Lancashire 25 0.68x
Gloucestershire 9 1.48x
Wiltshire 9 3.29x
Worcestershire 9 2.23x
Staffordshire 8 0.77x
Warwickshire 8 1.03x
Cheshire 7 1.03x
Durham 6 0.65x
Northamptonshire 6 2.06x
Yorkshire 6 0.20x
Cambridgeshire 4 2.04x
Leicestershire 3 0.88x
Suffolk 3 0.80x
Derbyshire 2 0.41x
Essex 2 0.33x
Shropshire 2 0.75x
Berkshire 1 0.43x
Hampshire 1 0.16x
Kent 1 0.09x
Sussex 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hammersmith London in Middlesex leads with 16 Shingles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.01x.

Place Total Index
Hammersmith London 16 21.01x
Horstead With Stanninghall 16 2666.67x
Great Plumstead 14 4000.00x
Newington 13 11.38x
Arminghall 12 9230.77x
Camberwell 9 4.56x
Bixley 8 4705.88x
Skelmersdale 8 130.93x
Bermondsey 7 7.60x
Birmingham 7 2.69x
Caistor Next Yarmouth 7 419.16x
Elton 7 55.21x
Kensington London 7 4.07x
West Dean 7 71.07x
Whitlingham 7 10000.00x
Hartlepool 6 45.91x
Hassingham 6 5454.55x
Newchurch 6 19.99x
Stoke Upon Trent 6 5.42x
East Dereham 5 83.19x
Himbleton 5 1041.67x
Isleworth 5 36.36x
Norwich St Paul 5 175.44x
Postwick 5 1562.50x
Ratcliffe London 5 29.27x
Rollesby 5 847.46x
Runcorn 5 31.77x
Sutton Benger 5 1315.79x
Denver 4 449.44x
Dunnockshaw 4 1818.18x
Ellerby In Skirlaugh 4 1111.11x
Hellesdon 4 459.77x
Mattishall 4 421.05x
Upwell 4 181.00x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 3 35.13x
Lakenham 3 44.38x
Outwell 3 326.09x
Towcester 3 100.00x
Westport St Mary 3 151.52x
Whittlebury 3 576.92x
Clerkenwell London 2 2.74x
East Ham 2 17.65x
Great Claybrooke 2 444.44x
Hawstead 2 555.56x
Hilgay 2 111.73x
Lambeth 2 0.74x
Richmond 2 9.47x
Rowley Regis 2 6.88x
St Pancras London 2 0.80x
Surlingham 2 392.16x
Tortworth 2 952.38x
Blofield 1 82.64x
Bradford 1 1.35x
Burton 1 357.14x
Crowle 1 178.57x
Derby St Michael 1 98.04x
Droitwich St Nicholas 1 66.67x
Great Hautbois 1 434.78x
Hartlebury 1 41.67x
Heigham 1 3.92x
Islington London 1 0.33x
Keymer 1 27.17x
Kings Norton 1 2.76x
Leicester St Margaret 1 1.20x
Little Chester 1 163.93x
Littleport 1 26.74x
Lyneham 1 93.46x
Maidstone 1 3.18x
New Windsor 1 12.82x
Northwold 1 78.74x
Norwich St Augustine 1 52.08x
Norwich St Stephen 1 22.94x
Old Withington 1 161.29x
Scarning 1 142.86x
Shrewsbury St Mary 1 9.49x
St Anne Soho London 1 5.66x
St Faith Winchester 1 33.90x
St George Bloomsbury 1 5.64x
St George Hanover 1 2.48x
Willesden 1 3.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 26
Sarah 20
Elizabeth 12
Jane 9
Emma 8
Annie 7
Ellen 7
Eliza 6
Edith 4
Hannah 4
Maria 4
Alice 3
Ann 3
Caroline 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Amelia 2
Anna 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Kate 2
Phebe 2
Priscilla 2
Susan 2
Arabella 1
Bella 1
Betsey 1
Diana 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Flora 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Latitia 1
Lavinia 1
Lilian 1
Margaret 1
Marian 1
Merinah 1
Minnie 1
Miriam 1
R. 1
Sally 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 22
John 19
James 16
Robert 14
Thomas 14
George 10
Samuel 9
Arthur 4
Charles 4
Edward 4
Joseph 4
Alfred 3
Herbert 3
Frederick 2
Fredrick 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Benjm. 1
Caleb 1
Daniel 1
Fred 1
G. 1
Gideon 1
Guy 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Shingles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shingles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 317 people were recorded with the Shingles surname. That placed it at #9,359 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shingles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 287 in 2016. That gives Shingles a modern rank of #15,212.

What does the Shingles surname mean?

A surname possibly derived from the Old English word "scingl" meaning roof covering or wooden roof tiles.

What does the Shingles map show?

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