Show ContentsShockey History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Shockey family

The surname Shockey was first found in Lancashire at Shakerley, which is now a suburb of Tyldesley in the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, Greater Manchester. Shakerley is derived from the Old English words "sceacere" + "leah" and literally meant "robbers woodland glade or clearing." 1 2

This property 'formerly almost exclusively the property of the Shakerleys of Somerford in Cheshire. The site of the hall is marked by a moat, and continued to be the residence of the Shakerleys till the middle of the last century.' 3

The earliest record of the place name was Shakerlee in 1210. Adam de Shakerley was the first of the name living in the area about 1200. Later, Henry de Shakresleghe, de Shakerleghe was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Lancashire in 1332. 4

Early History of the Shockey family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shockey research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1610, 1631, 1650 and 1651 are included under the topic Early Shockey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shockey Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Shakerley, Shackerly, Shackerley, Shack and many more.

Early Notables of the Shockey family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Jeremy Shakerley (fl. 1650), English astronomer and mathematician, was author of 'The Anatomy of Urania Practica,' or a short Mathematical Discourse. "Shakerley's chief claim to distinction is as the second observer of the transit of Mercury. The first transit was observed in 1631. According to...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Shockey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shockey Ranking

In the United States, the name Shockey is the 6,013rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 5


Shockey migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Shockey Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • John W Shockey, who landed in America, in 1906
  • Oren F. Shockey, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States, in 1919
  • Peter J. Shockey, aged 20, who settled in America, in 1919
  • Holvert Shockey, aged 27, who settled in America, in 1921

Contemporary Notables of the name Shockey (post 1700) +

  • Charles C. Shockey, American director of the Branch of Special Maps, U.S. Geological Survey, in 1962, eponym of Shockey Peak, Antarctica
  • Peter Shockey, American filmmaker and screenwriter, awarded a New York City Film Festival award for his television film Life After Life (1992)
  • Jeremy Charles Shockey (b. 1980), former American NFL football tight end who played from 2002 to 2011, first-ever Diet Pepsi NFL Rookie of the Year Award in 2002
  • David Shockey, American Republican politician, Chair of Stephenson County Republican Party, 2002
  • Eva Shockey (b. 1988), Canadian hunter who was the first woman in 30 years to make the front cover of Field & Stream magazine, daughter of Jim Shockey
  • Jim Shockey (b. 1957), Canadian outdoor writer, a professional big game outfitter and television producer
  • Jeff Shockey, American lobbyist and Congressional staffer who worked for Republican Representative Jerry Lewis until 1999


The Shockey 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: Antiquum Obtinens
Motto Translation: Possessing our ancient honour.


  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Baines Thomas & William Fairbairn, Lancashire and Cheshire, Past and Present History of Counties London: William MacKenzie, 1867, Digital, 4 vols
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/


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