Surname Sheals - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Sheals: What does the surname Sheals mean?
The surname Sheals is a variation of the name Shields, which has its origins in Ireland and Northern England. The name can derive from two sources.
It may come from the Old English term “sceeld”, meaning “shield”, implying the bearer was a shield-maker or could be a locative nickname for a person who lived near a notable shield-like natural feature.
More commonly, though, it is of Irish origin. It derives from the Gaelic name "O'Siadhail", which means the descendant of Siadhail, with Siadhail being a personal name meaning "willful" or "one (who) has ceased". It could also be a locative name for those who inhabited the lands of O'Siadhail.
However, like with any surname, individual families with the surname Sheals may have their own family interpretations or specific origins of the name. While it does provide some historical or professional information about the ancestral line, it may not apply to each family line carrying this surname.
Although not very common, this surname can be found in countries with a history of British or Irish settlement, such as the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Order DNA origin analysisSheals: Where does the name Sheals come from?
The last name Sheals is most common today in the United Kingdom and Ireland. According to Forebears, Sheals is the 503rd most common surname in the United Kingdom, with approximately 4,053 people carrying the name. It is most prevalent in Northern Ireland, where it is the 388th most common name with an estimated 1,753 people living with the surname.
In Ireland, Sheals is the 436th most common surname and is found predominantly in the Leinster region, with an estimated 4,507 people living with the name. Far fewer people with the surname Sheals can be found in the United States, as it is ranked as the 18,449th most common name.
The Sheals surname is generally accepted as being derived from the ancient Gaelic name “Ceall”, which can be traced back to the 7th century. The American Sheals family are believed to have descended from the Irish Sheals family who immigrated to the United States in the early 19th century.
Although far less people now bear the Sheals surname compared to decades passed, its prevalence in the United Kingdom and Ireland shows the continuing strength of its roots.
Variations of the surname Sheals
The surname Sheals is thought to have originated from the county of Lancashire, England. It can be found as variants including Sheall, Shealls, Sheel, Sheell, Sheels, Shell, Shells, Shewles, Sheol, and Sheols.
The Sheall variation is found more in Lancashire with several spellings recorded. Other spellings including Sheel appear to be found almost entirely in the Lancashire region, with a few examples recorded in the counties of Yorkshire, Cheshire, and Hertfordshire. The Sheels variant is also found more in the Lancashire region.
The Sheol and Sheols variations are both more commonly found in Ireland, indicating that a branch of this family may have traveled there at some point. The spellings of Shewles and Shell are found in both Lancashire and Ireland.
Variants of Sheals can also be seen in other surnames such as Sheil and Schiel found in Germany. These are thought to be possible variants or a reformed spelling of the same surname.
The surname Sheals and its many variants are thought to be derived from the medieval name Shiel, which is of Old German origin and means "shield or protector". It can also be derived from the Old English given name Sheal, meaning woodland clearing.
Famous people with the name Sheals
- Ray Sheals: Actor from the UK
- Jeff Sheals: American professional bowler
- Susie Sheals: Award-winning British children's author
- Bric Sheals: Professional beach volleyball player
- Braeden Sheals: British actor
- Saul Sheals: American jazz musician
- Luke Sheals: Professional British mixed martial artist
- Kenneth Sheals: American singer-songwriter
- Chrissy Sheals: British television presenter
- Zach Sheals: Former British NBA basketball player