Shiels Family Tree research resources
Research the background of the Shiels 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 705 people with the Shiels surname? In that year Shiels was ranked number 2875 for popularity in the UK. |
Shiels records on Ancestry
Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out your Shiels family tree. Many large databases are available to search covering from births, deaths and marriages, military records, census records and immigration records with many other smaller collections too. 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 Shiels family. |
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Ancestry.com US records search results for the Shiels family. |
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Ancestry.co.uk UK records search results for the Shiels family. |
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Ancestry.ca Canadian records search results for the Shiels family. |
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Ancestry.com.au Australian records search results for the Shiels 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Historical References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. A DNA test can sometimes help to make a link to a particular family name if you find you share common DNA with people who have the same or similar surnames as each other. If you are lucky then you may get a match within a few generations and discover some Shiels 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 Shiels Tree?
Visit our Shiels DNA page to find out more.
Birth, Death and Marriage Records for the Shiels Family History
Birth, Death and Marriage records are often the best method of making the links to the Shiels 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 below you will be able to find a birth record and, from that, a birth certificate can be ordered which lists the names of the mother and father, taking you back another generation in your tree. 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 Shiels family tree.
Look at Shiels Parish Records at Find My Past.
Look at the UK registered births, marriages and deaths for the Shiels family name using the FreeBMD database.
Study Genealogy Bank for Shiels family records.
Explore MyHeritage for Shiels family data.
Search the LDS Database for records of the Shiels family.
Research the Shiels surname using fold3 Military Archives and view images of original Shiels Military records.
| Did you know that there are currently 1788 people with the Shiels surname in the UK? Shiels is now ranked number 2481 for popularity in the UK. |
Shiels Genealogy Databases
Search WikiTree for user contributed Shiels family records. Collaboration is encouraged so that accuracy of Shiels data can be verified or corrected by other users.
Search MyTrees for information on the Shiels family and people looking to contact living Shiels relations.
Explore GENi for Shiels family records.
Find your Irish Shiels relatives on findmypast.ie
Shiels Forums
Research the Shiels surname using Genealogy.com forums .
Miscellaneous Shiels Databases
Investigate the Ellis Island Database for information on the Shiels 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 Shiels surname in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Romania.
Ask a Question
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