Researching Alexander Shields
Explore the detail of Alexander Shields using the links below. We hope you find this information useful!
![]() | 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. |

The name Alexander means "Helper and defender of mankind" and is of Greek origin.
Records of Alexander Shields on Ancestry
Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out the detail of Alexander Shields in your 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 Alexander Shields. |
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Ancestry.com US records search results for Alexander Shields. |
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Ancestry.co.uk UK records search results for Alexander Shields. |
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Ancestry.ca Canadian records search results for Alexander Shields. |
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Ancestry.com.au Australian records search results for Alexander Shields. |
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?
Birth, Death and Marriage Records for Alexander Shields and 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 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 Shields family tree.
Study Parish Records for Alexander Shields at Find My Past.
Search for the UK registered births, marriages and deaths of Alexander Shields using the FreeBMD database.
Study Genealogy Bank for Alexander Shields records.
Investigate MyHeritage for Alexander Shields information.
Look at the LDS Database for records about Alexander Shields.
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 History Databases
Another way to build your tree quickly is to use the research other people have already done. This can help to confirm or refute your own deductions - however, be wary of taking this data at face value as other researchers may not have been as meticulous as you. Always try to back up deductions with some definitive sources rather than relying too heavily on others.
Look at the WikiTree database for user contributed records for Alexander Shields.
Study MyTrees for information on the Shields family and people looking to contact living Shields relations.
Check out One Great Family for Shields records submitted by people who are already researching the Shields Family Tree.
Find Alexander Shields from Ireland on findmypast.ie
Shields Forums
There are a number of forums which are dedicated to rearching particular surnames. These can be good places to share your findings and also to tap into the knowledge that others may already have. These can sometimes be a good way of finding living relations as these tend not to show up on the other sources of information for privacy reasons.
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
Look at the Ellis Island Database for information on Alexander Shields. This database contains over 25 million immigration records detailing passengers arriving in the United States of America.
Some Famous People called Alexander Shields
Alexander Shields
Alexander Shields or Sheilds or Sheills (January 1661 – 1700) was a Scottish, Presbyterian, nonconformist minister, activist, and author. He was imprisoned in London, in Edinburgh and on the Bass Rock for holding private worship services. After his escape from prison he wrote A Hind Let Loose which amongst other things argues for the rights of people to resist tyrants including the bearing of arms and the resistance of taxes. It even argues that assassination, in extreme cases, is sometimes justified. Shields was one of the ministers who supported the Cameronians who disowned the king. They were brutally put down. All three of the Cameronian field-preachers, of which Shields was one, rejoined the church after the Revolution. Shields served as a chaplain to King William's armies in the Low Countries. Shields was later called to be a minister at St Andrews but did not stay there long as he joined the second Darien Expedition. After its failure he died on Jamaica under 40 years of age.
Source: Alexander Shields, Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia
Other names that sound a bit like Shields
Family names can get corrupted over time, particularly where literacy was not as good. The following list contains some names that have similar sounds so you may want to also look at one or two of the more likely possibilites.
Saltekoff Salthouse Saltikov Salts Saltsberg Saltsberger Saltsgiver Saltsman Saltwick Saltykov Saltzgerber Saltzgiver Saltzman Saulteaux Saults Schaldach Schildwachter Schlaitzer Schleitzer Schletzbaum Schlewitz Schlitz Schlottach Schlotzer Schlotzhauer Scholtes Scholtis Scholts Scholtz Schoultz Schuldheisz Schultes Schultheis Schultheiss Schulthies Schultke Schults Schultz Schultze Scoltock Scolts Seltz Seltzer Sheilds Shieltz Shilts Shiltz Sholdis Sholts Sholtz Shoults Shoultz Shuldheisz Shultes Shultis Shults Shultus Shultz Shultzmann Siltz Sladek Sladick Sladky Sladyszyn Slatzer Slawatycki Slides Soltes Soltesz Soltis Soltisz Sultzbaugh Sultzer





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