Contents [hide]

Sheppard History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Sheppard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of Sheppard

What does the name Sheppard mean?

A family in an ancient Scottish tribe called the Boernician were the ancestors of the first to use Sheppard as a surname. It is a name for a shepherd, one who guarded sheep. In Scotland, the name was often Latinized as pastor in early charters. 1 In this latter case, the Biblical reference to paschal lamb, the Lamb of God or Agnus Dei should be understood.

Early Origins of the Sheppard family

The surname Sheppard was first found in Peebles, where William and Walter Shepherd (recorded in the Latin form "Pastor") were cited in legal documents in the year 1262. One hundred years later we find a branch of the family in Morayshire, where Henricus Scyphard held land in Elgin in 1363. 1

Early History of the Sheppard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sheppard research. Another 72 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1513, 1565, 1605, 1649 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Sheppard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sheppard Spelling Variations

A lack of rules and the tendency of scribes to spell according to the sound of the word plagued medieval spelling. Not surprisingly, an enormous number of spelling variations appeared. Sheppard has been written Shepherd, Sheppard, Shepphard, Sheepheard, Sheepherd, Shippert, Shepard, Shephard and many more.

Early Notables of the Sheppard family

Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sheppard Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sheppard World Ranking

the United States, the name Sheppard is the 710^th most popular surname with an estimated 42,279 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Sheppard is ranked the 483^rd most popular surname with an estimated 10,027 people with that name. 3 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Sheppard is the 17^th popular surname with an estimated 848 people with that name. 4 Australia ranks Sheppard as 492^nd with 7,759 people. 5 New Zealand ranks Sheppard as 711^st with 1,004 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Sheppard as 402^nd with 16,132 people. 7

Migration of the Sheppard family to Ireland

Some of the Sheppard family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sheppard migration to the United States +

Many Scots crossed the Atlantic for North America hoping to escape poverty, as well as persecution. Much of their heritage was lost along the way and overtime. This century, however, Clan societies and highland games have allowed many ancestral Scots to recover their birthright. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Sheppard arrived in North America very early:

Sheppard Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Sheppard, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 9
Lieutenant Sheppard, who landed in Virginia in 1623 9
Ould Sheppard, who landed in Virginia in 1623 9
Robert Sheppard, aged 20, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "Hopewell" 9
Robert Sheppard, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1624 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sheppard Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Adam Sheppard, who landed in Virginia in 1705 9
Anne Sheppard, who landed in Virginia in 1713 9
William Sheppard, who arrived in Virginia in 1713 9
Eliza Sheppard, who arrived in Virginia in 1714 9
Margaret Sheppard, who landed in Virginia in 1714 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sheppard Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Peter Sheppard, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1815 9
James D Sheppard, who landed in New York in 1830 9
George G Sheppard, who landed in New York, NY in 1836 9
I B Sheppard, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 9
J W Sheppard, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sheppard Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Joseph Sheppard, who arrived in Arkansas in 1901 9

Sheppard migration to Canada +

Sheppard Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Benjamin Sheppard U.E. who settled in St. David, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 10
Mr. Jacob Sheppard U.E. who settled in St. David, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 10
Mr. Joseph Sheppard U.E. born in Pennsylvania, USA who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 10
Mr. Richard Sheppard U.E. who settled in St. David, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 10
Mr. Samuel Sheppard U.E. born in Pennsylvania, USA who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sheppard Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Catherine Sheppard, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Ann & Mary" from Cork, Ireland

Sheppard migration to Australia +

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

First Fleet

Mr. George Sheppard, British settler convicted at Middlesex, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 8

Following the First Fleet, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Sheppard Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Sheppard, English convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Thomas Sheppard, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
William Sheppard, English convict from Norfolk, who was transported aboard the "Asia" on April 1st, 1822, settling in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. Francis Sheppard, English convict who was convicted in Dorset, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 19th August 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. William Sheppard, (Shepherd), (b. 1800), aged 29, English shoe maker who was convicted in Dorset, England for 14 years for house breaking, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 19th August 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1893 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sheppard Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century

"Miss Sophia Sheppard, (b. 1801), aged 27, English needle woman who was convicted in Kent, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ""Competitor"" on 9th June 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia" 15

Sheppard 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:

Sheppard Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Sheppard, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841
F. Sheppard, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Brougham" in 1842
R. Sheppard, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Brougham" in 1842
James Sheppard, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1843
Robert Sheppard, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1843
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Sheppard (post 1700) +

Katherine Wilson "Kate" Sheppard (1847-1934), New Zealand suffragist, the most prominent member of New Zealand's women's suffrage movement, she organized the 1893 Women's Suffrage Petition which resulted in New Zealand becoming the first country to establish universal suffrage
Harry Sheppard (1928-2022), American jazz vibraphonist who recorded and played with Roy Eldridge, Charlie Shavers, Red Allen, Cozy Cole, Sol Yaged, Georgie Auld and many more
Mike "Shep" Sheppard Sr. (1936-2019), American college baseball coach
William Taylor Sheppard (b. 1877), American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Greenbrier County, 1927-30
William E. Sheppard, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Maryland State House of Delegates from Wicomico County, 1884
William C. Sheppard, American politician, Member of Michigan Prohibition Party State Central Committee, 1899
William B. Sheppard, American politician, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, 1903-07
William Sheppard, American politician, Member of North Carolina House of Commons from Dobbs County, 1785, 1787
Walter W. Sheppard, American politician, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia, 1932-33
... (Another 65 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Sheppard family +

Halifax Explosion

Mr. James Richard Sheppard (1865-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 16
Mr. William Sheppard, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 17
Mr. Frank William Sheppard (1895-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 17
Mr. Leonard F G Sheppard (b. 1905), English Petty Officer serving for the Royal Navy from Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 17
Ernest William Sheppard (1899-1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 18
... (Another 3 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sources +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Asia 1 voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 190 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1822
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 8th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html