NameCensus.

UK surname

Seaborn

A location-based surname indicating someone born near or at the sea.

In the 1881 census there were 286 people recorded with the Seaborn surname, ranking it #10,036 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 261, ranked #16,309, down from #10,036 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bromley, Great, London parishes and Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Herefordshire and Maldon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Seaborn is 412 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 8.7%.

1881 census count

286

Ranked #10,036

Modern count

261

2016, ranked #16,309

Peak year

1911

412 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Seaborn had 286 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,036 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 261 in 2016, ranked #16,309.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 412 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Seaborn surname distribution map

The map shows where the Seaborn surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Seaborn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Seaborn over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 187 #10,978
1861 historical 221 #11,031
1881 historical 286 #10,036
1891 historical 257 #12,476
1901 historical 347 #10,500
1911 historical 412 #9,097
1997 modern 293 #13,736
1998 modern 309 #13,612
1999 modern 307 #13,757
2000 modern 311 #13,588
2001 modern 309 #13,487
2002 modern 310 #13,697
2003 modern 295 #13,964
2004 modern 297 #13,971
2005 modern 294 #14,006
2006 modern 285 #14,361
2007 modern 281 #14,660
2008 modern 267 #15,349
2009 modern 270 #15,551
2010 modern 280 #15,485
2011 modern 277 #15,433
2012 modern 273 #15,546
2013 modern 265 #16,138
2014 modern 264 #16,288
2015 modern 254 #16,608
2016 modern 261 #16,309

Geography

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Where Seaborns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bromley, Great, London parishes, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a, Manchester and St Paul Shadwell, Ratcliff hamlet. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Herefordshire, Maldon, St Edmundsbury and Tameside. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Bromley, Great Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St Paul Shadwell, Ratcliff hamlet London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 003 Forest of Dean
2 Herefordshire 022 Herefordshire, County of
3 Maldon 001 Maldon
4 St Edmundsbury 013 St Edmundsbury
5 Tameside 025 Tameside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Seaborn

These lists show first names that appear often with the Seaborn surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Seaborn

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Seaborn, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Seaborn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Seaborn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Seaborn is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Seaborn is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Seaborn falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Seaborn is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Seaborn, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Seaborn

The surname Seaborn has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the late 16th century. It is derived from the Old English words "sæ," meaning sea, and "burn," meaning a small stream or brook. This suggests that the name initially referred to someone who lived near a stream that flowed into the sea or a coastal waterway.

Records show that one of the earliest recorded instances of the name Seaborn can be found in the parish registers of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, in 1597. The entry mentions a William Seaborn, who was christened on May 4th of that year.

In the 17th century, the name Seaborn appeared in various spellings, such as Seabourne, Seaburn, and Seabrooke, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. One notable bearer of the name was John Seaborn, a merchant and ship owner from Bristol, who lived from 1620 to 1685.

During the 18th century, the Seaborn family had established roots in several counties across southern England, including Hampshire, Dorset, and Devon. One of the most prominent individuals with this surname was Sir Michael Seaborn (1706-1789), a naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, the Seaborn name continued to spread across England and beyond. James Seaborn (1818-1896), a British painter and illustrator, was known for his landscape paintings depicting rural scenes in the English countryside. Another notable figure was Mary Seaborn (1842-1912), a philanthropist and social reformer who worked tirelessly to improve the living conditions of the poor in London's East End.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Seaborn name in North America can be traced back to the arrival of Thomas Seaborn, who settled in Virginia in the late 17th century. His descendants later migrated westward, and some branches of the family eventually established roots in other parts of the United States and Canada.

Throughout its history, the surname Seaborn has been associated with various occupations and professions, ranging from seafarers and merchants to artists and public servants. While not a particularly common name, it has left its mark on the historical records of several countries, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and experiences of those who have borne this distinctive surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Seaborn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Seaborn surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Essex leads with 72 Seaborns recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.03x.

County Total Index
Essex 72 13.03x
Middlesex 44 1.57x
Glamorgan 41 8.41x
Surrey 23 1.69x
Herefordshire 18 15.68x
Monmouthshire 15 7.41x
Gloucestershire 14 2.55x
Lancashire 14 0.42x
Warwickshire 8 1.13x
Norfolk 7 1.63x
Sussex 7 1.48x
Bedfordshire 5 3.45x
Suffolk 5 1.47x
Staffordshire 4 0.42x
Yorkshire 4 0.14x
Hampshire 2 0.35x
Pembrokeshire 2 2.25x
Channel Islands 1 1.21x
Radnorshire 1 4.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Openshaw in Lancashire leads with 14 Seaborns recorded in 1881 and an index of 89.97x.

Place Total Index
Openshaw 14 89.97x
Little Braxted 12 10909.09x
Ardleigh 11 718.95x
Lambeth 11 4.51x
Llanfoist 11 785.71x
Great Bromley 10 1449.28x
Roath 9 40.65x
Aston 8 4.12x
Colchester St Giles 8 146.52x
Leominster 8 168.42x
Llanwonno 8 45.69x
Stroud 8 74.84x
Burston 7 1794.87x
Islington London 7 2.58x
New Shoreham 7 247.35x
Swansea Town 7 17.52x
Battersea 6 5.82x
Boxted 6 759.49x
Llandaff 6 36.99x
Canon Pyon 5 746.27x
Cardiff St Mary 5 18.62x
Tottenham 5 11.21x
Bradfield 4 512.82x
Cannock 4 24.26x
Colchester St James 4 178.57x
Hackney London 4 2.55x
Hampton Wick London 4 195.12x
Hillingdon 4 44.79x
Luton 4 15.94x
Monmouth 4 74.49x
Richmond 4 20.92x
Gloucester Kingsholm St 3 146.34x
Hadleigh 3 90.63x
Mistley 3 202.70x
Paddington London 3 2.91x
Stoke Newington London 3 13.76x
Acton 2 12.19x
Camberwell 2 1.12x
Colchester St Leonard 2 112.36x
Great Burstead 2 99.50x
Great Horkesley 2 263.16x
Llanguick 2 22.91x
Mile End Old Town 2 4.53x
Portsmouth 2 15.14x
Ratcliffe London 2 12.94x
Shoreditch London 2 1.65x
St Lawrence Poultney 2 2222.22x
Tong 2 37.31x
Weobley 2 235.29x
Bedford St Paul 1 10.06x
Berkeley 1 32.68x
Bowling 1 3.64x
Brantham 1 256.41x
Briton Ferry 1 17.18x
Burghill 1 76.92x
Cheltenham 1 2.36x
Chester St Nicholas 1 256.41x
Colchester All Sts 1 232.56x
Colchester St Botolph 1 21.28x
Colchester St Peter 1 45.25x
East Donyland 1 75.19x
Frocester 1 384.62x
Fulham London 1 2.46x
Hipperholme Cum 1 8.20x
Ipswich St Nicholas 1 53.19x
Kensington London 1 0.64x
Langham 1 156.25x
Letterston 1 256.41x
Longtown 1 140.85x
Manningtree 1 111.11x
Merthyr Tydfil 1 2.13x
Newchurch 1 1000.00x
Orcop 1 188.68x
Rivenhall 1 151.52x
St Andrew Holborn 1 10.54x
St Issells 1 53.19x
St John Near Swansea 1 16.58x
St Marylebone London 1 0.67x
St Peter Port 1 6.51x
Swansea Lower 1 40.16x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Seaborn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 13
Sarah 11
Ann 9
Ellen 6
Emily 6
Alice 5
Louisa 5
Emma 4
Esther 4
Hannah 4
Eliza 3
Laura 3
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Ethel 2
Gertrude 2
Harriet 2
Julia 2
Kate 2
Margt. 2
Matilda 2
Susan 2
Susannah 2
Ada 1
Ameila 1
Amelia 1
Anna 1
Bessy 1
Carroline 1
Cleopha 1
Eva 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Hanna 1
Harriett 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Martha 1
Maud 1
Maude 1
Olive 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Tema 1
Winfred 1
Zeta 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Seaborn surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 19
William 13
George 12
Henry 9
Alfred 7
Robert 7
Arthur 5
James 5
Charles 4
Edward 4
Herbert 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
Ernest 3
Ambrose 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Jacob 2
Joseph 2
Maurice 2
Thos. 2
Alexander 1
Benedict 1
Benjamin 1
David 1
Dryson 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
F. 1
Firmin 1
Frank 1
Fredr. 1
Fredrick 1
H. 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Leonard 1
Nathaniel 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Thom.H. 1
Thoms.E. 1
Uriah 1
Walter 1
Willian 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Seaborn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Seaborn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 286 people were recorded with the Seaborn surname. That placed it at #10,036 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Seaborn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 261 in 2016. That gives Seaborn a modern rank of #16,309.

What does the Seaborn surname mean?

A location-based surname indicating someone born near or at the sea.

What does the Seaborn map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Seaborn bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.