Surname Sheparson - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Sheparson: What does the surname Sheparson mean?
The last name Sheparson is derived from the Old English name Sheepherd, which means ‘sheep herder.’ This was an occupation that was common during the Middle Ages when grazing land was limited, and sheep farmers would need to bring their herds across long distances to feed them. The family would often take care of their own sheep, moving them as necessary, often with the help of a sheepdog to protect and guide them.
The surname Sheparson first appeared in England in the 11th century and it was mostly concentrated in the southern and western counties like Wiltshire and Cornwall. Over the years, the surname has spread to Scotland, Wales, and even to America where the family arrived in the early 1700s.
The name Sheparson usually signifies a family who is hardworking and loyal. The family often had the responsibility of keeping watch over their flock, making sure they stayed safe and healthy - which required dedication and caring.
In essence, the surname Sheparson embodies the qualities of strength, fortitude, and perseverance, with a loving and caring spirit behind it. The family has a long history of hardworking members, which have achieved a great deal of success throughout the centuries.
Order DNA origin analysisSheparson: Where does the name Sheparson come from?
The last name Sheparson is most commonly found in the United States, according to the US Census Bureau. It is primarily clustered in the Northeast and upper Midwest areas of the country, with the highest concentration of individuals with this last name living in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois. The most frequent concentrations of this surname compared to the overall population are in Connecticut and Rhode Island, with Connecticut having the highest population.
Outside the US, Sheparson is found in the UK and Canada, primarily in the former British colonies of Scotland, Ireland, and England. Sheparson is also found in South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, where it is thought to have arrived with settlers from the UK.
The origins of the Sheparson surname go back further than the US, UK, Canada, and South Africa. The earliest known record of the Sheparson name is found in Nordvorpommern, Germany in the mid 17th century. It is likely that Sheparson is derived from the Old German word for shepherd, "schoep" combined with "son" (son of). This suggests an occupational origin, with Sheparson being an Americanized spelling of Shephardson.
Today, the Sheparson last name is still often associated with shepherds and works of art and literature featuring shepherds and their flocks.
Variations of the surname Sheparson
The surname Sheparson is of English origin and is derived from Old English. It is an occupational name for a shepherd or a "sheep-person". Variations of this name include Scheupperson, Shepperson, Scheparson, Shepparson, Sheppester, She Hawaii, Peppard, Schepperson, Scheppersonne, Scheppersonne, Sheppeser, Sheppesone, and Even Cowpers.
The Scheupperson spelling is derived from the German surname Scheuppers and was likely adapted by English immigrants from Germany. The Shepperson, Shepparson, and Sheppester spellings are found primarily in England and Scotland. The Scheparson spelling is an older variation found primarily in England. Peppard and Schepperson are the Irish forms of this surname and are found most often in the Connacht region of Ireland.
The Hawaiian families of She Hawaii may have adopted the surname from an immigrant family. It is sometimes seen in Hawaii with spelling variants such as Shephersen.
The Scheppersonne, Sheppeser, Sheppesone, and Even Cowpers spellings are more recently developed variants of the name. They are found primarily in the United States and likely developed from phonetic spellings of the surname during immigration or when Anglicizing it.
Regardless of the spelling, all of these surnames are derived from the Old English term for a shepherd or "sheep-person." They may have originated from a single family or multiple families who adapted the name for their own use.
Famous people with the name Sheparson
- Laura Sheparson: a British actress and TV presenter best known as the host of the popular game show 'The Crystal Maze'
- James Sheparson: an American actor and writer, best known for his roles in 'American Pie' and 'Scream 3'
- Matthew Sheparson: an English actor, best known for appearing in films such as 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince' and 'The King's Speech'
- Edward Sheparson: an English-American actor, best known for his roles in 'The Holiday' and 'Gone in Sixty Seconds'
- Phil Sheparson: an American actor and singer, best known for his role in the film 'Juxtapose'
- Susan Sheparson: an Australian actress, best known for appearing in 'Muriel's Wedding' and 'Moulin Rouge!'
- Tina Sheparson: an American model and actress, best known for appearing in 'The Matrix Revolutions'
- Robert Sheparson: an English director, best known for his documentary films such as 'Disaster!: The Money Pit' and 'Black Beauty'
- Will Sheparson: an American comedian and writer, best known for appearing in stand-up specials on Comedy Central
- Emma Sheparson: a British film and television actress, best known for appearing in 'Downton Abbey' and 'Grange Hill'.