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Shiels History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Shiels History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

This name was anglicized from Ó Siadhail in Gaelic, meaning an 'ancestor of Siadhail' (the prefix Ó denotes 'grandfather of'). Siadhail has been translated to mean 'sloth' or 'sluggishness'. As this name is descriptive of its original bearer, it is considered to be a nickname. However, many Irish of this name originally came from England or Scotland where the name Shields is derived from an Old English word meaning 'shed' or 'hut' - a somewhat more flattering meaning.

Early Origins of the Shiels family

The surname Shiels was first found in the Ulster region counties of Donegal, Derry, Antrim and Down. This family are reputed to be descendents of the great King Niall of the Nine Hostages.

Early History of the Shiels family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shiels research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1545, 1548, 1677, 1693, 1698, 1745, 1800, 1879, 1886 and 1949 are included under the topic Early Shiels History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shiels Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Shiel, Sheilles, Sheild, Sheill, Sheels, Sheils, Sheil, Shield, Shields, Shieles, Shiels, Shiells, Shielles, Shiell, Sheills, Sheilds and many more.

Early Notables of the Shiels family

More information is included under the topic Early Shiels Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shiels migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shiels Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Shiels, aged 24, who landed in New York, NY in 1834 1

Shiels migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shiels Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Margaret Shiels, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1844

Shiels migration to Australia +

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

Shiels Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Margaret Shiels, aged 20, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Nugget" 2
William Shiels, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Victoria Regia"
Alice Shiels, aged 28, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "Lady Ann"
Srah Shiels, aged 23, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1859 aboard the ship "Lady Ann"

Shiels migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Shiels Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Shiels, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Blundell" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1848 3
Mrs. Shiels, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Blundell" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1848 3
Miss Shiels, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Blundell" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1848 3
Miss Janet Shiels, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Jura" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd September 1858 3
Mr. James Shiels, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Jura" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd September 1858 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Shiels (post 1700) +

George Franklin Shiels (1863-1943), American surgeon, Medal of Honor recipient
Brendan Ian "Brush" Shiels (b. 1946), Irish musician from Dublin
Kenny Shiels (b. 1956), Northern Irish former football player and current manager
Paul Shiels (b. 1980), Irish footballer
Dean Andrew Shiels (b. 1985), Northern Irish footballer
Peter Shiels (b. 1973), Australian retired rugby league footballer
Sir Thomas Drummond Shiels MC (1881-1953), Scottish Labour politician
Liam Shiels (b. 1991), Australian rules footballer
William Shiels (1848-1904), Australian colonial politician, the 16th Premier of Victoria
Charles Shiels Wainwright (1826-1907), American produce farmer and artillery officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War, known for his diary of the July 1863 Battle of Gettysburg

The Shiels Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Omne solum forti patria
Motto Translation: Every land is a native country to a brave man

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
South Australian Register Tuesday 4th July 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Nugget 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/nugget1854.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html