NameCensus.

UK surname

Shuttle

A surname derived from the Old English word "scyttel," meaning a small boat or small weaver's shuttle.

In the 1881 census there were 211 people recorded with the Shuttle surname, ranking it #12,407 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 154, ranked #23,293, down from #12,407 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Chigwell, London parishes and All Saints Poplar. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Winchester, Sutton and Guildford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shuttle is 236 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 27.0%.

1881 census count

211

Ranked #12,407

Modern count

154

2016, ranked #23,293

Peak year

1911

236 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shuttle had 211 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,407 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016, ranked #23,293.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 236 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Shuttle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shuttle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shuttle 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 115 #15,634
1861 historical 133 #16,835
1881 historical 211 #12,407
1891 historical 190 #15,486
1901 historical 233 #13,740
1911 historical 236 #13,452
1997 modern 190 #18,199
1998 modern 196 #18,342
1999 modern 190 #18,797
2000 modern 196 #18,431
2001 modern 185 #18,840
2002 modern 197 #18,474
2003 modern 185 #18,999
2004 modern 179 #19,523
2005 modern 166 #20,379
2006 modern 168 #20,368
2007 modern 164 #20,973
2008 modern 157 #21,766
2009 modern 159 #22,072
2010 modern 167 #21,835
2011 modern 160 #22,282
2012 modern 148 #23,457
2013 modern 153 #23,314
2014 modern 152 #23,631
2015 modern 148 #23,934
2016 modern 154 #23,293

Geography

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Where Shuttles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Chigwell, London parishes, All Saints Poplar, Froxfield and New Windsor, Clewer. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Winchester, Sutton, Guildford and Waverley. 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 Chigwell Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 All Saints Poplar London (East Districts)
4 Froxfield Berkshire
5 New Windsor, Clewer Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Winchester 006 Winchester
2 Sutton 016 Sutton
3 Guildford 005 Guildford
4 Guildford 007 Guildford
5 Waverley 001 Waverley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shuttle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shuttle

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Shuttle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Shuttle household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Shuttle 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

Shuttle is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shuttle falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shuttle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Shuttle

The surname "SHUTTLE" is of English origin, and it can be traced back to the early 14th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "scyttel," which means "shuttle" or "weaver's shuttle." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname were likely involved in the weaving trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "SHUTTLE" can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a certain John Shutyl is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the evolution of the surname over time.

During the Middle Ages, surnames often originated from occupations, and the name "SHUTTLE" is no exception. It is possible that the name was initially bestowed upon a skilled weaver or someone who manufactured shuttles for weaving looms.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in various records, including the Parish Registers of Staffordshire, where a William Shuttle was recorded in 1563. Additionally, in the Hearth Tax Rolls of Worcestershire from 1672, a family by the name of Shuttle is mentioned, indicating their presence in the region.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname "SHUTTLE" was John Shuttle (1535-1599), an English clergyman who served as the Rector of Bampton in Oxfordshire. Another individual of note was Thomas Shuttle (1678-1744), a renowned clockmaker from Stratford-upon-Avon, who was renowned for his intricate timepiece designs.

In the 19th century, the surname "SHUTTLE" gained further prominence with the birth of Richard Shuttle (1823-1891), a successful industrialist and philanthropist from Yorkshire. He made significant contributions to the local community and played a pivotal role in the region's economic development.

Another distinguished bearer of the surname was Sir Edward Shuttle (1871-1946), a British diplomat who served as the Ambassador to Italy from 1924 to 1930. His diplomatic efforts during his tenure were widely recognized and praised.

While the surname "SHUTTLE" may not be among the most common in the English-speaking world, its origins and historical significance remain deeply rooted in the weaving trade and the evolution of occupational surnames in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shuttle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shuttle 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. Berkshire leads with 37 Shuttles recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.84x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 37 23.84x
Middlesex 36 1.74x
Surrey 36 3.57x
Wiltshire 31 16.95x
Essex 27 6.61x
Hampshire 19 4.48x
Warwickshire 9 1.73x
Lancashire 7 0.29x
Kent 5 0.71x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.80x
Leicestershire 1 0.44x
Royal Navy 1 4.06x
Somerset 1 0.30x
Yorkshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chigwell in Essex leads with 15 Shuttles recorded in 1881 and an index of 389.61x.

Place Total Index
Chigwell 15 389.61x
Froxfield 15 4838.71x
Poplar London 12 30.75x
East Woodhay 9 833.33x
Birmingham 8 4.60x
Lambeth 8 4.44x
Reading St Mary 8 64.36x
Woodford 8 173.16x
Woolhampton 8 2285.71x
Bromley London 7 15.38x
Chelsea London 7 11.23x
Egham 7 113.09x
Hampstead Marshall 7 3888.89x
Binfield 6 504.20x
Westleigh 6 107.72x
Charlwood 5 515.46x
Collingbourne Kingston 5 1020.41x
Reigate Foreign 5 45.83x
Colchester St Giles 4 99.26x
Hackney London 4 3.45x
Linkenholt 4 8000.00x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 9.61x
Bletchingley 3 229.01x
Chisledon 3 361.45x
Deptford St Paul 3 5.51x
Newbury 3 60.36x
Salisbury St Edmund 3 102.04x
West Lavington 3 340.91x
Aldershot 2 14.08x
Boxford 2 500.00x
Camberwell 2 1.51x
Aston 1 0.70x
Bathwick 1 27.17x
Brimpton 1 333.33x
Burbage 1 107.53x
Chieveley 1 121.95x
Croydon 1 1.79x
Eltham 1 24.21x
Faccombe 1 625.00x
Hampstead London 1 3.10x
Hougham 1 23.81x
Hurstbourne Tarrant 1 169.49x
Kensington London 1 0.87x
Limehouse London 1 4.41x
Nether Seal 1 250.00x
Northwood 1 16.56x
Paddington London 1 1.32x
Ramsbury 1 60.24x
Royal Navy 1 4.75x
Shipley 1 9.41x
St George In East 1 7.11x
St Marylebone London 1 0.91x
Stoke 1 21.05x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 1 14.16x
Vernham Dean 1 238.10x
Winterbourne 1 416.67x
Wooburn 1 58.14x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 10
Charles 9
Henry 9
James 8
William 8
Frederick 6
Thomas 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Harry 3
John 3
Joseph 3
Arthur 2
David 2
Frank 2
Job 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
C. 1
Charley 1
Edwd. 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Louis 1
Montague 1
Moris 1
Paul 1
Richard 1
Septimus 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Sydney 1
Tom 1
Westaly 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Shuttle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shuttle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 211 people were recorded with the Shuttle surname. That placed it at #12,407 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shuttle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 154 in 2016. That gives Shuttle a modern rank of #23,293.

What does the Shuttle surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English word "scyttel," meaning a small boat or small weaver's shuttle.

What does the Shuttle map show?

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