Find out how popular the last name DeShields is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named DeShields.

DeShields, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the DeShields surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of DeShields in America

DeShields is the 11663rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The DeShields surname appeared 2,688 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname DeShields.

We can also compare 2010 data for DeShields to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name DeShields

The surname DESHIELDS is believed to have originated in France, derived from the Old French phrase "de chields" or "des chields," meaning "of the shields" or "from the shields." This name likely emerged during the medieval period, possibly referring to individuals who were involved in the production, maintenance, or use of shields in warfare or heraldry.

The earliest recorded instances of the name DESHIELDS can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of northern France, such as Normandy and Picardy. It is possible that the name was initially adopted by families who resided near or were associated with locations bearing similar names, like the village of Chields or Shields.

One of the earliest known references to the name DESHIELDS can be found in the "Livre des Métiers" (Book of Trades), a medieval document from Paris dating back to the late 13th century. This text lists various professions and trades, including individuals identified as "des chields" or shield makers.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name DESHIELDS began to appear in various records and manuscripts across different parts of France. One notable example is Jacques DESHIELDS, a knight from Normandy who participated in the Hundred Years' War against England, serving under King Charles VI in the late 14th century.

As the name spread throughout France, it underwent various spelling variations, such as DeShields, DeShield, and Deshield. These variations often reflected regional differences in pronunciation and scribal practices.

In the 16th century, the DESHIELDS name gained prominence with the birth of Henri DESHIELDS (1523-1589), a renowned French poet and playwright from Paris. His works, including the famous play "Les Amours de Vénus et Adonis," brought recognition to the family name.

Another notable figure bearing the DESHIELDS surname was Marie DESHIELDS (1640-1718), a French noblewoman and influential courtier during the reign of King Louis XIV. She is remembered for her role in the cultural and literary circles of the time, as well as her patronage of the arts.

As the centuries passed, members of the DESHIELDS family continued to make their mark in various fields, including military service, academia, and the arts. For instance, Jean-Baptiste DESHIELDS (1712-1786) was a renowned French architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris and its surrounding regions.

It is important to note that while the name DESHIELDS has a rich history rooted in medieval France, its prevalence and distribution have likely expanded over time due to migration and intermarriage with other families across different regions and countries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name DeShields

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname DeShields.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for DeShields was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of DeShields has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name DeShields was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of DeShields, please contact us.

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