Surname Shepphard - Meaning and Origin
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Shepphard: What does the surname Shepphard mean?
The last name Shepphard is of English origin and it is an occupational name which means "shepherd". It comes from the Old English terms "sceap", which means sheep, and "hierde", that means herdsman or guardian. So, basically, this suggests that the original bearers of this surname were likely those who tended to sheep for a living. This was a crucial job in the medieval English economy implying the importance of wool and mutton. Using the job as a surname was done as an easy way for people to recognize and refer to others in small communities where many had the same first names. There are several variations and spellings of this surname, including Shepherd, Shepperd, Shephard, and others. Note that it's different from the surname 'Sheppard', deriving from a different English origin, it means 'dispenser of provisions' in the household of a noble or a monastery.
Order DNA origin analysisShepphard: Where does the name Shepphard come from?
Shepphard is a surname that is most commonly found in the United States today. It is most heavily concentrated in the Southern region, particularly in Texas, with large population concentrations in Georgia, North Carolina, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. It is likely that it descended from settler families bearing the name, who moved to the American South from Great Britain and Ireland. It is less common in other areas of the United States, such as the West Coast, the Midwest, and the Northeast.
In the U.K., Shepphard tends to be less common, though it is not unheard of. It is most commonly found in the South of England, and particularly in the counties of Berkshire, Kent, Hampshire, Wiltshire, Somerset, Warwickshire, and Oxfordshire. It is possible that these locations were settled by families bearing the name, who were of English or Irish descent.
Outside of the English-speaking world, Shepphard is a relatively rare surname. It appears in Germany, but is much less common in comparison. It can also be found in countries such as Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates, though the numbers of bearers tend to be much smaller.
Variations of the surname Shepphard
The surname Shepphard is most likely derived from the name Shephard or Shepherd, an Old English occupational name that denotes a person who tending to sheep. These variations of the surname Shepphard can be found across many countries in various spellings.
In England, the surname is often found as Sheppard, Shephard, Shephard, Shepherde, Shepparde, Shepherd and Shepheard. In Ireland, the surname is also seen as O'Shepard and O'Shephard. In Scotland, the surname is sometimes seen as MacGille Sheathair.
In the United States, the surname Shepphard is often seen as Shepard, Sheppard, Shephard, and Sheperd. It is sometimes seen in its different spellings, Shepherd and Sheppard. German spellings of Shepphard include Schäfer, Schefren, Schafer, Schafffer and Schafbare.
In France, the various spellings of Shepphard, include: Chevalier, Cheffert, Chevallier, Chevallier, Chevallet, Chevaullier, and Chiffon. In Dutch, the surname is often seen as Scheffer, Schaeffer, Shaeffer and Schaefer. Other variants of the surname are Sheppardon, Shipherd, Shepret and Shephearde.
The different spellings of the surname Shepphard serve to illustrate how a surname could be adapted and adopted in different languages over time. It is also possible that certain variants may have been more popular in certain regions. For example, the often seen German variations of the surname could be due to its popularity among early German settlers in America.
Famous people with the name Shepphard
- Eric Shepphard: actor who had a role in the 2017 biopic Marshall about Thurgood Marshall, the first African American Supreme Court Justice
- Nicole Shepphard: professional swimmer who participated in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro
- Michael Shepphard: actor and producer also known for his work in music producing
- Patrick Shepphard: celebrity chef and judge on the long-running cooking show Chopped
- Christopher Shepphard: medical doctor and professor at Stanford School of Medicine
- Samantha Shepphard: television star known for her role as the lead singer of the girl group 3LW
- Nicky Shepphard: singer and songwriter who has released five studio albums and who is signed to a small independent record label
- Elizabeth Shepphard: actress with roles in both film and television including the movie Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle and the TV shows 7th Heaven and Private Practice
- Lauren Shepphard: model and fashion designer known for her molecular-inspired designs
- Kristine Shepphard: popular Canadian recording artist and Grammy-nominated writer