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

Shelvin, 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 Shelvin surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Shelvin in America

Shelvin is the 35866th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Shelvin surname appeared 626 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 Shelvin.

We can also compare 2010 data for Shelvin 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 Shelvin

The surname SHELVIN is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "scylfe," which translates to "shelf" or "ledge." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a prominent geological shelf or ledge.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1212, where a certain Roger de Schelfyn is mentioned. This spelling variation indicates the name's evolution over time, with the "Schelfyn" likely being a precursor to the modern "SHELVIN."

The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contain references to individuals bearing the name, such as Adam de Shelvyn and Robert de Shelvyn, both residing in Oxfordshire at the time. These records provide insight into the surname's geographical distribution during the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the name SHELVIN appeared in various forms, including "Shelvyn" and "Sheluyn," as evidenced by the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield from 1348. This document mentions a certain John Shelvyn, indicating the name's presence in Yorkshire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname SHELVIN was Thomas Shelvin, who was born in Lancashire, England, around 1520. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local gentry.

Another notable figure was Sir Robert SHELVIN (1588-1657), a wealthy merchant and politician from Bristol, England. He served as the Mayor of Bristol in 1632 and was knighted by King Charles I for his loyal service.

In the 17th century, the name SHELVIN can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Leicestershire, where several baptisms and marriages of individuals bearing the surname are recorded.

During the 18th century, a prominent figure was James SHELVIN (1723-1798), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Yorkshire. He established several charitable foundations and endowed schools in his hometown.

Moving into the 19th century, one notable individual was Elizabeth SHELVIN (1810-1892), a renowned author and poet from Derbyshire. Her works often explored themes of nature and rural life, reflecting her upbringing in the English countryside.

It is worth noting that while the surname SHELVIN has English roots, it has also been adopted by individuals in other parts of the world, particularly in countries with historical ties to the British Empire, such as the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Shelvin

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

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

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

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