The Sheldon surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 19,339 people carried this name — #1,855 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 15,200 people counted. About the same as in 2000 (19,246).

See Sheldon on the map Look up another surname

Share

What the name means

The meaning of the Sheldon surname

A habitational surname from Old English from the placename.

From Old English scylf (“shelf”) + dūn (“hill”) or denu (“valley”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Sheldon» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘of Sheldon’.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 683 · public domain.

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Sheldon was found among the farmers of 4 counties.

It was most frequent in Derbyshire: 21 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 476. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Derbyshire 21
Oxfordshire 15
Staffordshire 12
Cheshire 9

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

325 families named Sheldon, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 1,988 people lived in those households, 6.1 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 8 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Connecticut 62
Massachusetts 54
Virginia 52
New York 46
Rhode Island 43
Vermont 28
North Carolina 21
Pennsylvania 5
Maine 4
New Hampshire 4
Maryland 4
South Carolina 2

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 261 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Sheldon in American newspapers,
1900–1906.

Newspaper page from Daily Kennebec Journal carrying the name Sheldon
Daily Kennebec Journal 1906-12-18
Newspaper page from Foster's Daily Democrat carrying the name Sheldon
Foster's Daily Democrat 1900-02-16
Newspaper page from The Forest Republican carrying the name Sheldon
The Forest Republican 1902-09-24

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 13,065 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Sheldon in Australian newspapers,
1830s–2000s.

37,581 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Sheldon. The most, 7,445, date from the 1910s.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 15,075
Victoria 8,448
Queensland 7,718
South Australia 3,396
Western Australia 1,887
Tasmania 759
ACT (Canberra) 210
Northern Territory 24

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Sheldon.

Who carried it

People named Sheldon,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Richard Sheldon d. 1641 · writer
  • Frances Sheldon d. 1790
  • Elizabeth Shelley d. 1766
  • Cholmondeley Charles Lennox Sheldon d. 1942
  • Grace Edna Sheldon d. 1972
  • Elizabeth Gorges d. 1829

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Sheldon,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States2,185 records

2,185 records of the Sheldon name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 687
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 415
  • Other U.S. records 1,083
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Thomas H. Sheldon

    Born 1918 in Idaho. Enlisted 1944 at Fort Lewis, Washington; lumberman. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1991, buried at Willamette National Cemetery, Oregon.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Rebecca Sheldon

    Arrived at New York in 1857 aboard the Cultivator from Liverpool, aged 18; domestic. From Donegal, Ireland.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Charles Mills Sheldon

    Born 1936; from Williamsburg, Virginia. U.S. Army, ranger; killed in action 1966 in South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)

Showing 3 of 2,185 records for Sheldon in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain).

Australia508 records

508 records of the Sheldon name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 310
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 75
  • Other Australian records 123
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record William Sheldon

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Barossa, sailing from Sheerness in 1841. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1850. Married 1850 in Hobart, Tasmania.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Walter Sheldon

    Arrived in Victoria in 1885 aboard the Garonne, aged 27; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Herbert Ernest Sheldon

    Transport driver of St Leonards, Victoria; died 1998.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 508 records for Sheldon in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain).

Canada51 records

51 records of the Sheldon name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 20
  • Canadian Virtual War Memorial 10
  • Other Canadian records 21
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Jas Sheldon

    Came to Ontario in 1879 aboard the Moravian, landing at Quebec, bound for Brantford, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Robert Sheldon

    Buried in 1932 at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, aged 44.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Grace Darling Sheldon

    Buried in 1988 at St. Mary's Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 93.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 51 records for Sheldon in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom32 records

32 records of the Sheldon name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 26
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 3
  • Other British records 3
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Elizabeth Sheldon

    Will proved in 1941; of Llanfairtalhaiarn, Denbigh.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Frederick Sheldon

    Buried in 1827 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 29.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record W. A. Sheldon

    Sapper, Royal Engineers. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 32 records for Sheldon in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand10 records

10 records of the Sheldon name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 5
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 2
  • Other New Zealand records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Sarah Sheldon

    Died 1922, aged 86; buried at Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Richard William George Sheldon

    Died 1972, aged 81; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Joseph Sheldon

    Buried in 1905 at Shortland Cemetery, Thames-Coromandel District, Waikato, aged 49.

    Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 10 records for Sheldon in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Netherlands10 records

10 records of the Sheldon name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch population registers 7
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 2
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 1
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record James Sheldon

    Died 1891 in Rotterdam, aged 55.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Sara Sheldon

    Married in 1618 in Heusden.

    Open Archives, Brabants Historisch Informatie Centrum (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Population register Alfred Sheldon

    In a population register; born 1867 in Berlijn.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 10 records for Sheldon in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France2 records

2 records of the Sheldon name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Clare Elisabeth Sheldon

    Born 1949 in Great Britain; died 1997 in Caen (Calvados).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Annie Sheldon

    Born 1912 in Great Britain; died 1997 in Najac (Aveyron).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Sheldon.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Sheldon is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

See the Sheldon volume
Scroll to Top