Explore the Family Name Sheaff
The meaning of Sheaff
English (Kent): from Middle English shefe ‘sheaf, bundle’ (Old English scēaf), hence possibly a nickname for a harvest worker, or for someone who paid or collected tithes, from the same term in the sense ‘tenth’ (or other proportion of produce paid as a tithe). History: Jacob Sheafe (died 1658) was one of the founds of Boston, MA. He is buried in the King’s Chapel Burying Ground there.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sheaff in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Sheaff has experienced a slight decrease in popularity over the past decade. In 2000, the surname was ranked 72,237th in terms of prevalence but had dropped to the 77,264th position by 2010, marking a decrease of almost 7 percent. The actual count of individuals with the surname also saw a minor dip from 251 in 2000 to 248 in 2010 – a reduction of 1.2 percent. Furthermore, the proportion of individuals named Sheaff per 100,000 people fell by 11.11 percent during the same period.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #72,237 | #77,264 | -6.96% |
| Count | 251 | 248 | -1.2% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.09 | 0.08 | -11.11% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sheaff
When it comes to the ethnic identity associated with the surname Sheaff, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some shifts between 2000 and 2010. The largest ethnicity associated with the name is White, accounting for 83.06 percent in 2010, down from 87.25 percent in 2000. The second most prevalent ethnicity is Black, which increased from 11.95 percent to 13.71 percent over the same period. There was a small emergence of Hispanic affiliation with the surname, going from zero in 2000 to 2.02 percent in 2010. The categories of Asian/Pacific Islander, Two or more races, and American Indian and Alaskan Native showed no representation among individuals with the surname Sheaff within both census years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 87.25% | 83.06% | -4.8% |
| Black | 11.95% | 13.71% | 14.73% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 2.02% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |