Meaning
A person employed to tend and manage a flock of sheep.
Description
Shepherds cared for flocks of sheep on farms and upland grazing lands, managing their movement between pastures, overseeing lambing, shearing and dipping and protecting the flock from predators and disease. The shepherd's knowledge of sheep management was highly specialised and valued. Many shepherds lived in isolated conditions on upland farms and moved with their flocks between summer and winter pastures. Shepherds used dogs trained to work sheep and carried the distinctive crook used to catch individual animals. The shepherd was a familiar figure in rural life and frequently appears in literature and records.
Also Known As
Sheep Herder, Flock Master
Commonly Found In
- Census Returns
- Parish Registers
- Estate Records
- Farm Records
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