NameCensus.

UK surname

Seales

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of seals, stamps, or signet rings.

In the 1881 census there were 221 people recorded with the Seales surname, ranking it #12,049 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 293, ranked #14,981, down from #12,049 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Tyneside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Seales is 523 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.6%.

1881 census count

221

Ranked #12,049

Modern count

293

2016, ranked #14,981

Peak year

1861

523 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Seales had 221 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,049 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 293 in 2016, ranked #14,981.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 523 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Seales surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Seales surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Seales 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 322 #7,215
1861 historical 523 #5,015
1881 historical 221 #12,049
1891 historical 474 #7,746
1901 historical 368 #10,057
1911 historical 435 #8,724
1997 modern 285 #13,981
1998 modern 284 #14,402
1999 modern 289 #14,320
2000 modern 275 #14,757
2001 modern 272 #14,654
2002 modern 290 #14,314
2003 modern 294 #14,002
2004 modern 290 #14,178
2005 modern 277 #14,542
2006 modern 267 #15,042
2007 modern 262 #15,399
2008 modern 269 #15,260
2009 modern 266 #15,711
2010 modern 279 #15,529
2011 modern 267 #15,892
2012 modern 278 #15,333
2013 modern 280 #15,530
2014 modern 294 #15,047
2015 modern 290 #15,117
2016 modern 293 #14,981

Geography

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Where Seales' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, St Pancras, Portsmouth, Portsea and Tottenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Tyneside. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Gateshead Durham
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
5 Tottenham Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Tyneside 016 South Tyneside
2 South Tyneside 019 South Tyneside
3 South Tyneside 013 South Tyneside
4 South Tyneside 008 South Tyneside
5 South Tyneside 012 South Tyneside

Forenames

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First names often paired with Seales

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Seales

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Seales, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Seales surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Seales household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Seales is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Seales is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Seales falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Seales is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Seales

The surname Seales has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "sæl," meaning "seal" or "sea lion," indicating that the earliest bearers of this name were likely associated with coastal areas or involved in maritime activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Seales surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a John Sele is mentioned. This document served as a census of landowners in England during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Sele, Selie, and Sely, reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations of the time. The surname is also linked to certain place names, such as Seal in Kent, which was formerly known as "Sele."

During the 15th century, the Seales surname gained prominence with the rise of notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was William Seales (c. 1460-1535), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton and played a significant role in the establishment of the Church of England during the Reformation.

Another noteworthy individual was Sir John Seales (c. 1520-1593), a successful merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1585. His wealth and influence allowed him to contribute to the development of the city, including the construction of several public buildings.

In the 17th century, the Seales family extended their reach to the American colonies. One prominent member was Edward Seales (c. 1645-1718), a merchant and landowner who settled in Virginia and became a prominent figure in the colony's government and social circles.

The 18th century saw the birth of John Seales (1728-1804), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford and the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.

As the centuries progressed, the Seales surname continued to be represented in various fields, including literature, politics, and the arts. Notable individuals include the British writer and critic John Seales (1892-1975) and the American painter and printmaker Robert Seales (1913-1997).

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Seales families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Seales 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. Middlesex leads with 44 Seales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.06x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 44 2.06x
Norfolk 30 9.13x
Essex 26 6.17x
Durham 20 3.15x
Hampshire 18 4.11x
Yorkshire 13 0.61x
Lancashire 11 0.43x
Surrey 10 0.96x
Ayrshire 9 5.63x
Nottinghamshire 8 2.78x
Kent 7 0.96x
Hertfordshire 6 4.08x
Warwickshire 4 0.74x
Cambridgeshire 3 2.22x
Derbyshire 3 0.90x
Suffolk 3 1.15x
Lanarkshire 1 0.14x
Lincolnshire 1 0.29x
Shropshire 1 0.54x
Sussex 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portsea in Hampshire leads with 14 Seales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.32x.

Place Total Index
Portsea 14 16.32x
Tottenham 14 41.15x
Westoe 12 33.31x
West Ham 11 11.82x
Dreghorn 9 311.42x
St Marylebone London 9 7.89x
Morston 7 5833.33x
Stapleford 7 299.15x
Cheetham 6 31.73x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 6 60.85x
Leyton 6 82.64x
Southchurch 6 1538.46x
St Pancras London 5 2.91x
Bermondsey 4 6.29x
Bishop Auckland 4 46.89x
Bishopwearmouth 4 7.33x
Bradford 4 7.81x
Cromer 4 341.88x
Hook 4 85.84x
Westminster St 4 50.76x
Berkhampstead 3 90.63x
Binham 3 857.14x
Church Gresley 3 56.39x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 3 50.85x
Grundisburgh 3 500.00x
Hertford All Saints 3 365.85x
Stockbridge 3 468.75x
Thursford 3 1250.00x
Aston 2 1.35x
Bethnal Green London 2 2.16x
Camberwell 2 1.47x
East Dereham 2 48.19x
Hammersmith London 2 3.80x
Hindley 2 18.50x
Kensington London 2 1.68x
Lee 2 18.90x
Paddington London 2 2.55x
Scarborough 2 10.40x
Southwark Christchurch 2 19.98x
Tonbridge 2 7.61x
Tottenhill 2 740.74x
Witton 2 62.70x
Althorne 1 434.78x
Alverstoke 1 6.31x
Birmingham 1 0.56x
Broughton In Salford 1 4.31x
Edmonton 1 5.81x
Falsgrave 1 32.05x
Fishlake 1 250.00x
Govan 1 0.59x
Greenwich 1 2.94x
Hastings St Mary 1 11.16x
Kingston On Thames 1 4.00x
Leamington 1 28.01x
Mile End Old Town 1 2.97x
Mileham 1 277.78x
Milton In Milton 1 32.26x
Rotherhithe 1 3.79x
Sculcoates 1 2.98x
South Weald 1 27.70x
St George Hanover 1 3.59x
St Giles In Fields 1 13.57x
Stiffkey 1 312.50x
Stratton St Mary 1 222.22x
Tollerton 1 1111.11x
Wanstead 1 13.55x
Wellington 1 9.64x
Wilsford 1 200.00x
Woolwich 1 3.71x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Sarah 9
Jane 8
Ann 7
Elizabeth 6
Alice 5
Martha 5
Esther 4
Sophia 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Caroline 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Hester 2
Lucy 2
Margaret 2
Marion 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Bessie 1
Cathr. 1
Elizabeh 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Emma 1
F. 1
Harriett 1
Jemima 1
Jenetta 1
Joyce 1
Lilian 1
Lillian 1
Margt. 1
Naomi 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Robina 1
Rosanna 1
Rose 1
Roseanna 1
Rosella 1
Selina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
John 10
George 9
Thomas 9
Edward 6
Charles 5
Arthur 4
James 4
Richard 3
Alfred 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Ambrose 1
Barnabas 1
Booth 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Frank 1
Horace 1
I. 1
Jas. 1
Johon 1
Joshua 1
Percival 1
Rueben 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Walker 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Seales surname: questions and answers

How common was the Seales surname in 1881?

In 1881, 221 people were recorded with the Seales surname. That placed it at #12,049 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Seales surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 293 in 2016. That gives Seales a modern rank of #14,981.

What does the Seales surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a maker or seller of seals, stamps, or signet rings.

What does the Seales map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Seales 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.