Shephard Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Shephard Name Meaning: An English/Scottish name thought to have originated from the words 'sceap' and 'hierde' meaning 'herd men' or 'guard'.

An occupational name for a herdsman, someone that was associated with the looking after/guarding of sheep.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Shephard Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Shephard family

Profession Census Frequency
School 353
Private Means 38
Farm Labourer 34
General Labourer 31
Labourer 25
General Servant (domestic) 19
House Keeper 17
Farmer 17
Dress Maker 15
Dressmaker 15
Clerk 14
Domestic Servant 14
School Boy 14
House Painter 13
At School 12
Carman 12
Charwoman 12
Scholar 12
General Servant Domestic 12
Coal Miner Hewer 12
None 12
Bricklayer 12
Laundress 11
At Home 11
Carpenter 10

Shephard Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Shepherd 88% 135,807
2 Shephard 100% 29,283
3 Shepheard 89% 3,812
4 Shefford 63% 2,216
5 Shephered 78% 963
6 Shipherd 75% 679
7 Shepphard 89% 367
8 Shiphard 88% 250
9 Shapherd 75% 207
10 Shaphard 88% 148
11 Shephred 75% 121
12 Shopherd 75% 119

Did you know?

The surname Shephard is the 2nd most popular variant of Shepherd.

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