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

Shelfer, 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 Shelfer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shelfer in America

Shelfer is the 87335th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shelfer surname appeared 213 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 Shelfer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shelfer 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 Shelfer

The surname SHELFER is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "scylf," meaning "shelf" or "ledge." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near a prominent shelf or ledge, or perhaps someone who worked with shelves or ledges in some capacity.

The earliest recorded instances of the name SHELFER can be traced back to the late 13th century, with references found in various historical documents, such as parish records and tax rolls. One notable early bearer of the name was John Shelfer, a landowner in the village of Shelford, Nottinghamshire, who was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of 1273.

By the 14th century, the SHELFER name had spread to other parts of England, with various spellings emerging, including Shelfer, Shelffer, and Shelfar. In the Subsidy Rolls of 1327, a Thomas Shelfer is listed as a taxpayer in the county of Oxfordshire.

During the Tudor period, the SHELFER name gained further prominence, with several individuals bearing the name playing significant roles in various aspects of society. One such figure was William Shelfer (c. 1490-1558), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of London, who served as Sheriff of London in 1547.

Another notable bearer of the SHELFER name was Sir Thomas Shelfer (1525-1592), a distinguished lawyer and member of the English Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He was appointed as a Justice of the Common Pleas in 1582 and is recorded as having played a crucial role in several high-profile legal cases of the time.

In the 17th century, the SHELFER name continued to be well-represented, with several individuals achieving prominence in various fields. One such figure was Robert Shelfer (1612-1689), a renowned clergyman and author who served as the Dean of Canterbury from 1672 until his death.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the SHELFER name spread further across the British Isles, with families bearing the name establishing themselves in various parts of England, Scotland, and Wales. One notable figure from this period was Captain John Shelfer (1756-1821), a British naval officer who distinguished himself in several battles during the Napoleonic Wars.

As the centuries passed, the SHELFER name continued to be carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, contributing to the rich tapestry of English society and history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shelfer

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

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

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

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