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

Shelor, 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 Shelor surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shelor in America

Shelor is the 25356th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shelor surname appeared 976 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 Shelor.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shelor 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 Shelor

The surname Shelor is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "scealfor," which means "chough" or "jackdaw," referring to the black bird species. This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname for someone with dark hair or complexion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where a certain William Schalvour is mentioned. This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time. Another early reference appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327, documenting a John Schalfore.

The Shelor name has been associated with various locations in England, particularly in the counties of Sussex, Surrey, and Kent. Some historical records indicate that the surname may have originated from place names such as Shallford or Shalford, which were derived from the Old English words "sceal" (shallow) and "ford" (a river crossing), suggesting a connection to a shallow ford or river crossing.

Notable individuals bearing the Shelor surname throughout history include:

1. William Shelor (c. 1560-1638), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Cumnor in Berkshire.
2. Robert Shelor (1683-1768), a prominent merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire, known for his extensive property holdings and philanthropic efforts.
3. Elizabeth Shelor (1725-1802), a renowned British botanist and naturalist, who contributed significantly to the study of plant life in the 18th century.
4. John Shelor (1789-1867), a Scottish-born explorer and surveyor who played a crucial role in mapping the Canadian Northwest during the early 19th century.
5. Margaret Shelor (1853-1938), an influential educator and advocate for women's rights, who founded one of the first girls' schools in London.

Throughout its history, the Shelor surname has undergone various spellings, including Shalford, Shaleforde, Shellor, and Shallor, reflecting regional variations and the evolution of the English language over time. Despite these variations, the name has maintained its distinct identity and rich heritage, spanning centuries of English history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shelor

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

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

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

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