Shepard is an English surname and a given name of American origin. The name Shepard is derived from the Old English word 'sciphere', which means 'shipmaker'. Over time, the spelling evolved to 'Schipper', then 'Skipper' before finally becoming 'Shepard'.
The name Shepard was historically associated with the occupation of shipmaking or being a skipper (captain) of a ship. In some cases, it may also have referred to someone who lived near a shed or outbuilding.
In recent years, Shepard has gained popularity as a given name in America, particularly after the release of the video game series 'Mass Effect', created by BioWare. The protagonist of this series is Commander Shepard, which has contributed to the rise in popularity of this unique and distinctive name.
Despite its origins, Shepard is not typically associated with any specific historical figures or events. However, there are some notable people who bear this surname, including American football coach Pete Carroll and actor Alec Shepard.
The name Shepard experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the past century. While it was quite common between 1947 and 1958, with yearly birth counts ranging from 7 to 15, there was a notable decline starting from the late 1960s until the mid-1990s, with annual births dropping to as low as 5. However, since around the year 2000, there has been a remarkable resurgence in its popularity, with birth counts increasing steadily and reaching a peak of 253 in 2022. Overall, there have been a total of 3200 births with the name Shepard over the years recorded.