Origin of the surname Shiels

This interesting Irish name originates in Ulster. The Gaelic form is O'Siadhail usually Anglicized in its present form, or as Shiel, Sheils, Shields and Sheilds, although claiming descent from Niall of the Nine Hostages, the O' Shiels were known as a family of hereditary physicians rather that a territorial sept. The notable members of this Clan through the ages were involved in Catholic Emancipation e.g., Richard Lalor Sheil (1791 - 1851) was founder of the Catholic Association. More recently, the name is associated with the stage in particular the Abbey Theatre, Dublin e.g., George Shiels, Playwright and William Shiels, better known as Barry Fitzgerald, (actor).

The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Murtagh O' Shiel, which was dated circa 1548, County Offaly, during the reign of King Edward V1, 'The Boy King', 1547 - 1553. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Shiels. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Discovering the historical roots of shiels is deeply interesting, as it takes us back to the ancestors and relatives who established this lineage. Research into the possible origins of shiels leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname shiels is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation.

The surname Shiels around the world

Although surnames have a specific origin at a certain time and region of the planet, many of them have spread far and wide across the world for various reasons, as is the case with the surname shiels. There is a considerable probability that shiels has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where shiels is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname shiels provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.

History of Shiels

The historical chronicle of shiels is based on a striking series of events that were led by those who have carried this surname throughout history. The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named shiels are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname shiels, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of shiels developed.

We suggest that if you want to learn more about the surname shiels, try to locate it through the bibliographic sources we suggest. It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of shiels could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about shiels and send it to us, we will update it on this website.

Notable Figures Named Shiels

It's more than likely that there have been some distinguished shielss throughout human history. We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname shiels, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname shiels were recorded by the chroniclers of the time.

The surname Shiels and its bibliographic sources

Thanks to a significant bibliographic review, we have so far compiled information on the heraldry, history, and genealogy of shiels. The bibliography collects information related to the surname shiels, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of shiels are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of shiels, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Shiels