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

Sheard, 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 Sheard surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sheard in America

Sheard is the 14084th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sheard surname appeared 2,135 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 Sheard.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sheard 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 Sheard

The surname SHEARD is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "sceard," which means a gap, crevice, or opening in a hedge or fence. It is believed to have originated in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire, during the Middle Ages.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SHEARD can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where it appears as "Sherde." This suggests that the name was already in use by the 14th century and may have been an occupational name for someone who lived near a gap or opening in a hedge or fence.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname SHEARD appeared in various records across Yorkshire, with variations in spelling such as "Sherde," "Shard," and "Shearde." One notable figure from this period was John Sheard (c. 1580-1650), a wool merchant and landowner from Huddersfield, Yorkshire.

In the 18th century, the SHEARD surname began to spread beyond Yorkshire, with records showing families bearing this name in other parts of England. One prominent individual from this era was Samuel Sheard (1737-1808), a Baptist minister and author from Northamptonshire.

As the Industrial Revolution took hold in the 19th century, many SHEARD families migrated from rural areas to urban centers in search of employment. Notable figures from this period include Joseph Sheard (1809-1887), a successful industrialist and businessman from Leeds, and Eliza Sheard (1829-1903), a renowned educator and advocate for women's rights from Sheffield.

Throughout the 20th century, the SHEARD name continued to be found across England, as well as in countries with large British diaspora populations, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia. Some notable individuals from this era include Sir Henry Sheard (1883-1962), a British businessman and philanthropist, and Sir Oliver Sheard (1908-1992), a British politician and member of Parliament.

While the SHEARD surname has evolved over the centuries, its roots can be traced back to the northern counties of England, where it originated as a descriptive name related to the Old English word "sceard." Throughout its history, the name has been associated with individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, ministers, industrialists, educators, and political figures.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sheard

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

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

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

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