What are the origins of the surname Shufelt?

Question

I'm trying to do research to find my great, great great grandmother. I know she was probably Swedish or had Swedish ancestry, and that she married Charles Fuller some time before 1867, but there were a lot of Charles Fullers. One of those Charles Fullers married a woman named Mandana Shufelt in 1847. I don't know if that could be the one, because I think Shufelt might be German, but I'm not sure....?

Answer 1

Shufelt is not at all Swedish spelling (there is no 'sh' in swedish in fact :)

But, a lot of names got somewhat mangled during the immigration process. It could be a simplification, or 'written by ear' at the immigration office version of a Swedish name.

Depending where in Sweden she came from (because pronunciation varies quite a lot), there's a few names that could sound rather like Shufelt to a foreigner.  Sjöfeldt is the most obvious guess that I can think of, that you could find as a surname in Sweden today.

Answer 2

I went to check your earlier questions, to see if you had made prior statements regarding the country that you are working.. but your questions are private.  

So, I have to be vague and general.  My first advice would be to go back, and check your documentation leading up to here. What record shows her to be Swedish? Where have you found her/him in a census record? do you have a place/document for the marriage?

Shufelt would certainly sound German. It is not impossible that this name is on the marriage record, but it may be a 2nd marriage for her?

You have to evaluate your evidence. What you "know" can be from family tradition, but the records might prove differently.  Without some location, I have no way to do a search for you, to see if I can find any record to help.