Shields Family Tree research resources
Delve into the history of the Shields Family Tree using the resources below. We hope you find these sites useful whilst you are researching your Genealogy !
 | Did you know that in the 1881 UK census there were 4629 people with the Shields surname? In that year Shields was ranked number 916 for popularity in the UK. |
Shields records on Ancestry
Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out your Shields family tree. A vast range of data is available to search ranging from census records, births, deaths and marriages, military records and immigration records to name but a few. Free trials are normally available and are a good way to fill out a lot of your tree quickly.
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Ancestry.com Global records search results for the Shields family. |
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Ancestry.com US records search results for the Shields family. |
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Ancestry.co.uk UK records search results for the Shields family. |
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Ancestry.ca Canadian records search results for the Shields family. |
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Ancestry.com.au Australian records search results for the Shields family. |
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Historical References
"SHIEL, SHIELL, SHIELS, SHIELLS, SHEIL, SHEILS, SHIELD, SHIELDS. Originally a Border surname of local origin. Middle English schele, cognate with Old Norse skali, "used first of a shepherd's summer-hut, and then a small house." Cf. Bums's "The swallow jinkin round my shiel." Thomas of le Schele was juror on an inquisition made at Traqueyr, 1274 (Bain, n, 34). William Schelle of the county of Edeneburk rendered homage, 1296 (ibid., p. 201). Symon de Schele was dean of guild in Edinburgh, 1403, and William de ScheUis, presbyter and notary public in the diocese of Glasgow, 1448 (RD., p. 309). Gilbert Schell witnessed sasine of lands of Walle, 1469 (Home, 22), and John Scheill was citizen of Glasgow, 1527 (LCD., p. 88). Andro Cheill or Cheild was tenant of land of West Scheill, 1515 (Rental), and Andro Scheill, tenant in barony of Glasgow in same year (ibid.). Alexander Sheilds or Shields (1660-1700), the Covenanter, wrote his name 'Sheils.' John Shil died 1721 and was buried in Earlston churchyard. Robert Shiels, the amanuensis to Dr. Samuel Johnson in the compilation of his Dictionary, was bom in Roxburghshire. Scheill 1661, Scheils 1552, Schelis 1557, Scheills 1686. "(The surnames of Scotland. George Fraser Black, 1866-1948)
DNA
Sometimes you can run into a brick wall in your tree and you just don't have enough evidence to make that next step back in time. If you are lucky then you may find some previously undiscovered Shields ancestors. Additionally, the modern DNA test can give you a breakdown of your ethnic mix - you may be surprised at the results!
Have you reached a brick wall in your Shields Tree?
Visit our Shields DNA page to find out more.
Birth, Death and Marriage Records for the Shields Genealogy
Birth, Death and Marriage records are often the best method of making the links to the Shields Genealogy that will form part of your family tree. Although records vary from country to country, they are normally the most formal record of a person's relations. From the sources listed below it will be possible to locate a birth record and, from that record, a birth certificate may be obtainable which is likely to list the names of the parents, therefore taking you back another generation. A marriage certificate may also list the names of the respective fathers of the bride and groom which may then help you to find them earlier in life on a census record enabling you to fill out more detail in the Shields family tree.
Look at Shields Parish Records at Find My Past.
Explore the UK registered births, marriages and deaths for the Shields family name using the FreeBMD database.
Explore Genealogy Bank for Shields family records.
Study MyHeritage for Shields family data.
Search the LDS Database for records of the Shields family.
Research the Shields surname using fold3 Military Archives and view images of original Shields Military records.
| Did you know that there are currently 9771 people with the Shields surname in the UK? Shields is now ranked number 592 for popularity in the UK. |
Shields Family Tree Databases
Study WikiTree for user contributed Shields family records. Collaboration is encouraged so that accuracy of Shields data can be verified or corrected by other users.
Explore MyTrees for information on the Shields family and people looking to contact living Shields relations.
Study GENi for Shields family records.
Find your Irish Shields relatives on findmypast.ie
Shields Forums
Research the Shields surname using Genealogy.com forums .
| Did you know that there are currently 60765 people with the Shields surname in the USA? Shields is ranked number 137 for popularity in the USA. |
Miscellaneous Shields Databases
Study the Ellis Island Database for information on the Shields family. This database contains over 25 million immigration records detailing passengers arriving in the United States of America.
Use the Surname Map project to look at the current distribution of the Shields surname in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Romania.
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