Show ContentsShepherdson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Shepherdson

What does the name Shepherdson mean?

This surname is derived from a nickname as in 'the shepherd's son.' 1

Early Origins of the Shepherdson family

The surname Shepherdson was first found in Cumberland, England where John Schephirdson was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for 1332. 2

A very rare surname, the next record of the family was almost one hundred years later in Durham where the source "History and Antiquities of the County Palatine of Durham" listed John Shepherdson in 1423. The Fabric Rolls of York Minster: Wills and Inventories (Surtees Society) lists Alice Shipperdon in Yorkshire, but no date was given and William Shipperdson was later listed in County Durham. 1

Early History of the Shepherdson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Shepherdson research. Another 145 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1708 and 1738 are included under the topic Early Shepherdson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Shepherdson Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Shepherdson has been recorded under many different variations, including Shepperdson, Shipperdson, Schipperdson, Schepperdson, Shepherdson, Sheperdson, Sheppardson, Shipardson, Shepperson, Sheperson, Shiparson, Sheparson, Shepparson, Shipson, Shepson, Sheppson and many more.

Early Notables of the Shepherdson family

More information is included under the topic Early Shepherdson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Shepherdson migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Shepherdson or a variant listed above:

Shepherdson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Fra Shepherdson, who landed in Virginia in 1706 3

Shepherdson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Shepherdson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • George Craike Shepherdson, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Hartley" in 1837 4
  • Jabez Banks Shepherdson, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Hartley" in 1837 4
  • John Shepherdson, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Hartley" in 1837 4
  • John Banks Shepherdson, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Hartley" in 1837 4
  • Marianne Shepherdson, who arrived in Kangaroo Island aboard the ship "Hartley" in 1837 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Shepherdson (post 1700) +

  • Nancy Shepherdson, American Democratic Party politician, Presidential Elector for Illinois, 2012 5
  • Michael Francis Shepherdson (1930-2016), Malaysian bronze medalist field hockey player at the 1962 Asian Games


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HARTLEY 1837. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1837Hartley.htm
  5. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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