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Shape Family History

Shape Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire): apparently a nickname from Middle English shap(e) ‘shape form; appearance; style fashion’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Shape family from?

You can see how Shape families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Shape family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Shape families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 15 Shape families living in Nova Scotia. This was about 41% of all the recorded Shape's in Canada. Nova Scotia had the highest population of Shape families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Shape surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Shape ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Bookkeeper were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Shape. 27% of Shape men worked as a Laborer and 17% of Shape women worked as a Bookkeeper. Some less common occupations for Americans named Shape were Carpenter and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Shape | 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.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    27%
  • Farmer
    26%
  • Salesman
    8%
  • Carpenter
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Bookkeeper
    17%
  • Secretary
    13%
  • Clerk
    13%
  • Housekeeper
    13%

What Shape family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Shape. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Shape census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Shape

Passenger Lists

There are 329 immigration records available for the last name Shape. 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 Shape immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 4,000 military records available for the last name Shape. For the veterans among your Shape ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Shape military records

You've only scratched the surface of Shape family history

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What is the average Shape lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Shape life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 1976. The average life expectancy for Shape in 1948 was 39, and 84 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Shape

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Shape ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Shape family tree

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