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

Shead, 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 Shead surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shead in America

Shead is the 19062nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shead surname appeared 1,428 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Shead.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shead 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 Shead

The surname "SHEAD" is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Somerset. This name is thought to have derived from the Old English word "scead," which means "to divide" or "to separate." It is likely that the name was initially given to someone who lived near a boundary or division of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "SHEAD" can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Schede." This historical record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution of surnames in different regions of England during the 11th century.

During the medieval period, the name "SHEAD" was often associated with various place names in Somerset, such as Sheadborough and Sheadwell. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname over time.

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the name "SHEAD" was John Shead (c. 1540-1615), a prominent English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Berkshire. Another individual of note was Sir Richard Shead (1608-1678), a member of the English gentry and a landowner in Somerset.

The 18th century saw the birth of Thomas Shead (1738-1813), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He participated in several notable battles and is recognized for his contributions to naval history.

In the 19th century, one of the most renowned individuals with the surname "SHEAD" was Sir John Shead (1825-1902), a British architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall in London.

Another noteworthy figure from this period was Emily Shead (1871-1954), a British artist and illustrator known for her intricate botanical illustrations and her work in the Art Nouveau style.

Throughout its history, the surname "SHEAD" has maintained a strong presence in the counties of Somerset and Dorset in England, where it originated. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to the Old English word "scead," reflecting its connection to the division or separation of land.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shead

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

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

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

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