A Shevlin by Any Other Spelling
The good news in researching the Shevlin family is that there are relatively few individuals to track down. The bad news is that the name is spelled in so many different ways.
Some of the surname variants found in this site are: Shevlin, Shiverlin, Shevilin, Shevland, Sheveland, Shevelin, Shoveland, and Scheffelin.
Variants found in the 1850 census include: Shoveland, Shevelin, Sheveland, Shevolin, Shevalin, Shovlin Shevalon, Shevelien, Shivelin, Shevelene, Shevlen.
Variants found in the 1860 census include: Shevalin, Shevelin, Sheverline, Shevilan, Shevland, Shevlen, Shevlin, Shevlin, Shevlland, Shivelin, Shoveland, Shovelen, Shovelin, Shovlin.
Irish records also show Shevlan, Shevlane, Shovelin, and Shovlin, not to mention the Gaelic O'Seibhlin. Years ago I asked an Irish linguist friend how you pronounce "Seibhlin" and he said "Shevlin".
Many of our ancestors came to America not knowing how to read or write. Census takers wrote their names phonetically. Combining the early spellings with an Irish accent gives a strong hint as to how our ancestors pronounced their name.
"Top of the mornin' to ye, Paddy Shevelin!"