Show ContentsShackle History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Shackle surname was a habitational name from Scackleton, a village and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire. [1] The village is mentioned three times in the Domesday Book as Scacheldene or Scachelsey. [2]

The place name probably means "valley by a point of land," from the Old English scacol + denu. [3] Another source claims the word "scacol," describes a "tongue of land."

Early Origins of the Shackle family

The surname Shackle was first found in Lancashire where Hugh Schacheliton was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1246. Hugh Shakeldene was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Yorkshire in 1302. [1]

"The Shackletons were one of the most notable Quaker families in Ireland. Their famous school at Ballitore, Co. Kildare, where Edmund Burke was educated, was founded by Abraham Shackleton, a native of Yorkshire, in 1726. His son Richard Shackleton and his grandson Abraham Shackleton carried on the school with success. His daughter, Mary Leadbeater (1726-1826), the author of poems and essays, left a valuable account of rural life in the eighteenth century. Sir Ernest Shackleton (1874-1922), the Antarctic explorer, was of the same Co. Kildare family." [4]

The Shackell variant has the same root and "is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Shakell'; compare the local Shackleton." [5] The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include Willelmus Shakelle. [5]

In Norfolk, The Vicarage of Corpesty, Norfolk, 'was sold by Heydon to Thomas Jecks and John Shakle, and by them to the Bacons, 1611.' [6] "This form still remains in Norfolk, Shackle being found in the Modern Domesday Book for that county." [5]

Early History of the Shackle family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shackle research. Another 128 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1246, 1280, 1302, 1597, 1601, 1602, 1697, 1726, 1728, 1761, 1771, 1792, 1826, 1862, 1874 and 1922 are included under the topic Early Shackle History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shackle Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Shackleton, Shackle, Sheckleton and others.

Early Notables of the Shackle family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • Abraham Shackleton (1697-1771), English schoolmaster, the youngest of six children, was born at Shackleton House, near Bingley in the West Riding of Yorkshire...

Ireland Migration of the Shackle family to Ireland

Some of the Shackle family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 124 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Shackle migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shackle Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Emily Shackle, aged 1, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Lily Greenman" in 1849 [7]
  • Jessey Shackle, aged 4, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Lily Greenman" in 1849 [7]
  • Robt Shackle, aged 30, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Lily Greenman" in 1849 [7]
  • Mr. Shackle, aged 28, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Lily Greenman" in 1849 [7]
  • Robert Shackle, aged 35, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Victory" in 1866 [7]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Shackle Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Edward Neeld Shackle, aged 48, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Caronia" in 1907 [7]
  • Frank Shackle, aged 51, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Mauretania" in 1911 [7]
  • Guy Shackle, aged 22, who arrived in Ellis Island, New York aboard the ship "Minnetonka" in 1912 [7]

Australia Shackle migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Shackle Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century
  • G. Shackle, who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Ennerdale" in 1907 [8]
  • Mrs. M. S. Shackle, who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Ormande" in 1934 [8]

Contemporary Notables of the name Shackle (post 1700) +

  • Thomas Shackle (1834-1887), English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Middlesex in 1868
  • Thomas Shackle, English cricketer who made 30 known appearances in first-class cricket matches from 1789 to 1809
  • Maud Shackle (1870-1962), English tennis player who played at Wimbledon in 1892 and 1893
  • George Lennox Sharman "G. L. S." Shackle (1903-1992), English economist, much of his work is associated with the Dempster–Shafer theory of evidence
  • Christopher Shackle (b. 1942), English philologist, Emeritus Professor of Modern Languages of South Asia at the University of London


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. MacLysaght, Edward, Supplement to Irish Families. Baltimore: Genealogical Book Company, 1964. Print.
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
  7. Ellis Island Search retrieved 9th February 2023. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  8. National Archives of Australia Retrieved 9th February 2023. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/PassengerListing.aspx


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