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

Shackleford, 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 Shackleford surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shackleford in America

Shackleford is the 8746th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shackleford surname appeared 3,751 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 Shackleford.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shackleford 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 Shackleford

The surname Shackleford is believed to have originated in England, possibly during the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational surname, derived from a place name referring to a village or town where the first bearers of the name lived or came from.

One theory suggests that the name Shackleford is derived from the Old English words "sceacol," meaning a shake or rattle, and "ford," referring to a shallow river crossing. This could potentially indicate that the name originated from a place near a ford where the river made a rattling or shaking sound.

Another possible origin is the combination of the Old English words "sceacga," meaning a thicket or small wood, and "ford," which would suggest the name originated from a place near a ford surrounded by a thicket or small wooded area.

While the exact origin and meaning of the name are not definitively known, it is clear that Shackleford has deep roots in England, potentially dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period or earlier.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Shackleford can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

Notable individuals with the surname Shackleford include Sir Walter Shackleford (1535-1608), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another prominent figure was Thomas Shackleford (1617-1692), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Clare College, Cambridge.

In the 18th century, Samuel Shackleford (1690-1768) was a notable English clergyman and philosopher, known for his work on moral philosophy and natural theology. Later, in the 19th century, John Shackleford (1811-1879) was a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the St. James's Church in Piccadilly.

Another notable individual was Charles Shackleford (1865-1939), an American businessman and philanthropist who co-founded the Shackleford-Upham Company, a successful lumber and sawmill operation in Mississippi.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Shackleford, highlighting its long-standing presence and significance across various fields and regions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shackleford

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

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 Shackleford 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 Shackleford 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 Shackleford was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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