Meaning and Origin
What does the name Shepherd mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
Origin and Meaning of Shepherd
User Submitted Origins
English
67%
Anglo-Saxon
17%
German
8%
American
8%
User Submitted Meanings
- A user from the United Kingdom says the name Shepherd is of Anglo-Saxon origin and means "Sheep: Old English sceap, Old Frisian skep, Old Saxon scap, Old High German scaf. Herder: a person who cares for or drives herds of cattle or flocks of sheep, esp on an open range".
- A submission from the United States says the name Shepherd means "Sheep herder".
International Interest
Also see international interest
Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
noun Shep"herd
Senses
- A man employed in tending, feeding, and guarding sheep, esp. a flock grazing at large.
- The pastor of a church; one with the religious guidance of others.
Etymology: OE. schepherde schephirde, AS. sceáphyrde; sceáp sheep + hyrde hirde heorde, a herd, a guardian. See Sheep, and Herd
verb Shep"herd
To tend as a shepherd; to guard, herd, lead, or drive, as a shepherd.
Other Dictionary Sources
- A herder of sheep (on an open range); someone who keeps the sheep together in a flock
- A clergyman who watches over a group of people
- Tend as a shepherd, as of sheep or goats
- Watch over like a shepherd, as a teacher of her pupils
Wiktionary
From Middle English schepherde, from Old English scēaphyrde, a compound of scēap (“sheep”) and hierde (“herdsman”), equivalent to modern sheep + herd (“herder”).
- A person who tends sheep, especially a grazing flock.
- (figuratively) Someone who watches over, looks after, or guides somebody.
- (figuratively) The pastor of a church; one who guides others in religion.