Show ContentsShapely History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Shapely family

The surname Shapely was first found in Devon where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

But we must look to Kent for the first record of the family. For it is here that John de Sheppey (d. 1360), Bishop of Rochester, who was educated under the patronage of Haymo Heath, Bishop of Rochester, became a Benedictine monk at that city, 1

Early History of the Shapely family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shapely research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1410, 1414, 1417, 1419, 1420, 1427 and 1762 are included under the topic Early Shapely History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shapely Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Shapleigh, Shapley and others.

Early Notables of the Shapely family

Notables of the family at this time include John Shapleigh (died 1414), of Exeter, Devon, an English politician, Member of the Parliament of England for Exeter in...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shapely Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Shapely family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Nicholas Shapleigh settled in Maine in 1630; James Shapley arrived in Philadelphia in 1878.



  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


Houseofnames.com on Facebook