Surname Shapley - Meaning and Origin

Shapley: What does the surname Shapley mean?

The surname Shapley is of English origin and derives from a location-based name. It is believed to be linked to places called Shepley in West Yorkshire or Shipley in several different counties. The places are named with Old English "scēap", which means sheep, and "lēah", meaning wood, glade, or clearing. Thus, Shapley can be interpreted to mean "clearing where sheep are kept". It identified individuals who lived near or worked in such areas.

While the surname can be traced back to England, it has spread to many English-speaking countries, including the United States and Canada, over centuries of migration. The Shapley family motto is "Auspice Christo", meaning "Under the guidance of Christ".

It's worth noting one of the famous people with this surname, Harlow Shapley, who was an important American astronomer in the 20th century. His work contributed to our understanding of the Milky Way's structure.

Shapley: Where does the name Shapley come from?

The last name Shapley is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. It can also be found in countries across Europe, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The name originated in the county of Cheshire, England. In the 2000s, the highest density of Shapley's was found in Cheshire.

In terms of the origins of the name, it is believed to have been a patronymic surname based on the given name Shap, derived from the Old English pre-7th Century personal name "Scap". Other spellings of Shapley include Shaplie, Shapelay, Shaplee, Shappley, Scapley, Scaplee, and Scapelay.

The name Shapley is of some notoriety due to the scientist Harlow Shapley who first deduced the size of our Milky Way galaxy.

Although the last name is not particularly common, you can still find the Shapley family in the United Kingdom today. It is also found in the Netherlands, Germany, France, and other parts of Europe. In the United States, Shapley's can be found mainly in the Northeastern and Midwestern regions. In Canada the surname is also common in the east coast provinces.

Overall, Shapley is a mostly British surname, but can be found in other countries across the world.

Variations of the surname Shapley

The surname Shapley, also spelt as Shappley and Shapleigh, is an English toponymic surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is derived from Shapp, which was an Old English name applied to a family who lived at Shapp, now known as Shap in Cumbria. The pronunciation may vary depending on the spelling, with Shappley being pronounced "shayp-lee" and Shapleigh pronounced "shayp-lee".

Variants of this surname include Shappley, Shapleigh, Scaply, Schapley, Schapleigh, Shaplie, Shappelie, Shappilie, and Shaplee. Over time, these spellings have varied and evolved in various places, particularly in the United States tax records from the 18th and 19th centuries, including Schapplee, SchPAC-LY, Shuppley, and Schupple.

There are many other surnames which could be of the same origin as Shapley. These include Persley, Cappleman, Shaperman, and Pearsley. Some spellings may be an Americanization of the surname, such as Shapleye, Shaplye, Shaplee, Shaply, and Shaplye.

Despite its origins, Shapley is now a popular name throughout the English-speaking world, and may even be found in Australia and New Zealand in various spellings.

Famous people with the name Shapley

• Harlow Shapley: Astronomer in the 20th century famous for his work in determining the structure of our Milky Way galaxy.
• Lucy Shapley: American folk singer, songwriter, and artist popular in the 1960s and 70s.
• Troy Shapley: Professional baseball player in the late 19th century.
• Ruth Shapley: American costume designer who worked on numerous films in the 1930s to 1950s. 5.Hugh Shapley: English actor who worked in television, stage, and film during the 1950s and 60s.
• Albert Shapley: Vice Admiral of the United States Navy who served during the Korean War.
• Chris Shapley: Former English footballer, played in the 2000s.
• Gordon Shapley: Canadian actor who worked on ice hockey films in the 1970s.
• John Shapley: English poet and writer of the Romantic period.
• Adam Shapley: Indian film actor and producer, worked in many Tamil language films.

Other surnames

Shapleigh