SHORTLAND
Shortland
Shortland is a traditional English surname with origins dating back to medieval times. The surname is locational in nature, derived from the Old English words "sceort" (meaning short) and "land" (meaning land or territory), denoting an individual who hailed from a place with a name containing these elements.
History
The earliest recorded instance of the surname Shortland dates back to the 13th century in the county of Worcestershire, England. Over the centuries, individuals bearing the surname Shortland have been documented in various regions across England, with notable concentrations in counties such as Warwickshire and Herefordshire.
Notable Individuals
1. Thomas Shortland (1757–1807)
- A British naval officer who served during the late 18th century. Shortland is best known for his exploratory voyages in the South Pacific, during which he charted several previously unrecorded islands.
2. Laura Shortland (b. 1985)
- A contemporary British artist renowned for her abstract landscape paintings. Shortland's works have been exhibited in galleries across the United Kingdom.
Variants
Over time, variations of the Shortland surname have emerged, including Short, Shorland, and Shorthouse, each indicating regional or familial differences within the wider Shortland lineage.
Legacy
The surname Shortland continues to be borne by individuals of English descent worldwide, with branches of the family having settled in countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. The name serves as a reminder of England's rich linguistic and historical heritage.
There are approximately 1,805 people named Shortland in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,586th most common surname in Britain. Around 28 in a million people in Britain are named Shortland.
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- Daniel
- David
- Dominic
- James
- John
- Keith
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
Female
- Ar
- Emma
- Hilary
- Jane
- Janet
- Joanne
- Julie
- Karen
- Lisa
- Michelle
- Sarah
- Susan