Surname Shields - Meaning and Origin

Unravelling the Story of My Surname: A DNA Analysis Experience with iGENEA

Digging into my genetic vault with iGENEA, I embarked on a journey that unraveled the history and origins of my surname- Shields. From tracing back my roots to the Celts in Ireland to finding deeper cultural implications of my surname, the DNA test fostered a newfound respect for my lineage.

G. Shields

Shields: What does the surname Shields mean?

The surname Shields is of English and Irish origin. It is a topographical name for someone who lived by a shed or small building, perhaps a guardhouse or a defensive structure in medieval times. This name is derived from the Middle English term "schele," meaning "shed" or "hut". In Irish, it is an anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Sheóid, which is a patronymic form of a name that means “auspicious” or “lucky”. The surname Shields could also have originated from the town Shields, now North and South Shields, in the former county of Northumberland, now Tyne and Wear in Northern England. As a family name, Shields is found throughout England, Scotland, and Ireland, as well as North America and other English-speaking communities worldwide. It is an example of a surname that was derived from a geographical location or occupational role.

Shields: Where does the name Shields come from?

The last name Shields is most commonly found in the United States and United Kingdom. It is thought to be of English and Irish origin.

In the US, Shields is the 518th most popular surname, with a frequency of 1 in 10,239 people. Over 32,000 people in the US share this last name, and its highest concentration is in Arizona.

In the UK, Shields is the 855th most common surname with a frequency of 1 in 7,782 people. Around 8,250 people in the UK carry this last name, and Shields can be commonly found in Lancashire and London.

Outside of the US and UK, Shields can be found in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is also found in smaller numbers in countries such as Ireland, Germany, and India.

The origin of the surname Shields is an interesting one. It is derived from the Old English elements "sciell", meaning a shield, and the Old French word "eschiel", meaning a shield bearer. The first recorded use of the name was in 1066 in England.

Throughout history, the Shields family has had many notable members, including the first secretary of the Treasury of the United States, Alexander Hamilton. Today, Shields is a popular surname that is found in many countries around the world.

Variations of the surname Shields

Shields is an English and Scottish patronymic name originating from the Middle English ‘scheld’, meaning “bright or clear”. Shields is the most common variation of the name, but it can also be spelled Sheilds or Shield, with similar pronunciation.

In Scotland, many variants of the surname originate from the Gaelic name “Mac an t-sagairt”, meaning “son of the priest”. The spelling of the name has been modified and anglicised over time, leading to various variants such as McSheals, McChesles, McShields, McChesil, and MacShield.

Other spellings include Shieldis, Shieldess, Sheildas, Shyldes, Schyldys, Schildys, Skildes, Sarkis, Sarkies, and Sheildes. Double-barrel surnames with Shields include Shield-McCredie and Shield-McCormack.

Alternatively, some variations of the Shields surname may derive from other names entirely. For example, Scheld is also a variation of the German name Schild, while Schuld and Sheld are Dutch variants of the name. Shields is also a diminutive of Shield-Ringer, an English surname derived from the Middle English term “ringer”, meaning “joiner”. Additionally, Sheild is an anglicisation of the Gaelic word “siegeal”, meaning “meeting”.

Famous people with the name Shields

• Brooke Shields: Model, Actor, Producer
• David Shields: Author
• Brittany Daniel: Actress
• Nicole Shields: American Freestyle Skier
• Juliette Shields: Human Rights Activist
• Thomas Shields: Australian Rules Football Player
• Stéphanie Shields: Executive Director of California Cruise Lines
• Kiera Shields: Broadway Actress
• Buckminster Fuller: Inventor, Architect
• Yancey Arias: Actor
• Jake Shields: Mixed Martial Artist
• Susan Shields: Nurse
• Carol Shields: Award-Winning Author
• Jordan Shields: Actor
• Rebecca Shields: British Film Actor
• Zdeno Chara: Ice Hockey Player
• Ryan Shields: NFL Player
• Kevin Shields: Musician, Record Producer
• Michael Shields: British Man Imprisoned in Bulgaria
• Joe Shields: Comic Book Artist

Other surnames

ShielShieldShiellShiels