Shelford Family History

Shelford Surname Meaning

Primarily from Great and Little Shelford (Cambs) recorded as Scheldford in 1109–33 but also from Shelford (Notts) which is recorded as Sceldford in about 1160 and perhaps occasionally from Shelford in Burton Hastings (Warwicks) which is recorded as Scireford in 1206 or Shallow Bridge in Beauchamp Roding (Essex) which is recorded as Schele(f)ford in 126.

The Cambs and Notts place-names derive from Old English *sceldu ‘shallow place’ + ford ‘shallow place by which water can be crossed’. The Warwicks place-name derives from Old English scīr ‘bright clear’ + ford.

The Essex place-name derives from an Old English river-name *Sceolge ‘the winding one’ (related to Old English sceolh ‘twisted awry squinting’) + ford.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016

Similar surnames: Shuford, Telford, Welford, Elford, Halford, Holford, Seaford, Seekford, Belford, Thetford

7K	Birth, Marriage, and Deaths
549	Military Records
43K	Immigration Records
8K	Census and Voter Lists
11K	Member Trees

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Where is the Shelford family from?

You can see how Shelford families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shelford family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1880 and 1920. The most Shelford families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1911 there were 7 Shelford families living in Ontario. This was about 39% of all the recorded Shelford's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Shelford families in 1911.

Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shelford surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

View Census Data for Shelford

What did your Shelford ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General labourer and Unpaid domestic duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Shelford. 28% of Shelford men worked as a General labourer and 81% of Shelford women worked as an Unpaid domestic duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shelford were general labourer light work and wife of naval officer (private means).

View Census Data for Shelford

Data not to scale

We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

General labourer

28%

Club steward

19%

Postman

19%

general labourer light work

19%

Unpaid domestic duties

81%

None

Unpaid domestic

wife of naval officer (private means)

What Shelford family records will you find?

Census Record

There are 8K census records available for the last name Shelford. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shelford census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Shelford

Passenger List

There are 43K immigration records available for the last name Shelford. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Shelford immigration records

Military Records

There are 549 military records available for the last name Shelford. For the veterans among your Shelford ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shelford military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shelford family history

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What is the average Shelford lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Shelford life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1991, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Shelford in 1963 was 81, and 52 in 2004.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Shelford family tree

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Shelford Surname Meaning

The Essex place-name derives from an Old English river-name *Sceolge ‘the winding one’ (related to Old English sceolh ‘twisted awry squinting’) + ford.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016

Where is the Shelford family from?

What did your Shelford ancestors do for a living?

Data not to scale

We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

General labourer

28%

Club steward

19%

Postman

19%

general labourer light work

19%

Unpaid domestic duties

81%

None

Unpaid domestic

wife of naval officer (private means)

What Shelford family records will you find?

What is the average Shelford lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Shelford life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1991, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Shelford in 1963 was 81, and 52 in 2004.

Shelford Family History

Shelford Surname Meaning

71,000 record(s) for Shelford

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Shelford family from?

What did your Shelford ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Shelford family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Shelford family history

What is the average Shelford lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Shelford family tree

Search for another surname

Shelford Surname Meaning

71,000 record(s) for Shelford

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Where is the Shelford family from?

What did your Shelford ancestors do for a living?

Top Male Occupations In 1939

Top Female Occupations In 1939

What Shelford family records will you find?

Census Record

Passenger List

Military Records

You've only scratched the surface of Shelford family history

What is the average Shelford lifespan?

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Shelford family tree

Search for another surname