UK surname
An occupational surname referring to those engaged in seafaring or maritime activities.
In the 1881 census there were 64 people recorded with the Seamen surname, ranking it #24,561 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 29, ranked #36,059, down from #24,561 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Coney Weston, Kingston-on-Thames and King's Lynn St Margaret. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Seamen is 119 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 54.7%.
1881 census count
64
Ranked #24,561
Modern count
29
2016, ranked #36,059
Peak year
1851
119 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Seamen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Seamen surname density by area, 1901 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 119 | #15,247 |
| 1861 | historical | 96 | #21,648 |
| 1881 | historical | 64 | #24,561 |
| 1891 | historical | 95 | #24,694 |
| 1901 | historical | 119 | #20,624 |
| 1911 | historical | 59 | #26,914 |
| 1997 | modern | 27 | #35,016 |
| 1998 | modern | 24 | #35,488 |
| 1999 | modern | 28 | #35,127 |
| 2000 | modern | 26 | #35,295 |
| 2001 | modern | 24 | #35,357 |
| 2002 | modern | 25 | #35,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 25 | #35,471 |
| 2004 | modern | 24 | #35,697 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 21 | #36,179 |
| 2007 | modern | 23 | #36,142 |
| 2008 | modern | 22 | #36,281 |
| 2009 | modern | 22 | #36,394 |
| 2010 | modern | 20 | #36,599 |
| 2011 | modern | 22 | #36,430 |
| 2012 | modern | 23 | #36,366 |
| 2013 | modern | 27 | #36,150 |
| 2014 | modern | 28 | #36,107 |
| 2015 | modern | 30 | #35,979 |
| 2016 | modern | 29 | #36,059 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Coney Weston, Kingston-on-Thames, King's Lynn St Margaret, Brampton and Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Coney Weston | Norfolk |
| 2 | Kingston-on-Thames | Surrey |
| 3 | King's Lynn St Margaret | Norfolk |
| 4 | Brampton | Norfolk |
| 5 | Crediton, Colebroke, Shobrooke, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Cruwys Morchard | Devon |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Seamen surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Seamen, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Seamen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Seamen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Seamen is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Seamen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Seamen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "SEAMEN" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely as an occupational name for someone who worked on ships or as a sailor. It is derived from the Old English word "sæmann," which means "seaman" or "mariner."
This surname can be traced back to the 13th century, with early records showing variations in spelling such as "Seman," "Semann," and "Seaman." These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling in those times. The name is also found in various historical documents, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from the late 13th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "SEAMEN" is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1275, which mentions a person named Roger Seman. Another early record is the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, which lists a John Seman.
In the 14th century, the surname appears in various historical records, including the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a Richard Seman is mentioned in 1317. The name is also found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Wiltshire from 1332, which lists a William Seman.
During the 15th century, the surname continued to be documented in various records, such as the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1428, which mentions a John Seman. Another notable individual from this period was Thomas Seaman, a merchant and alderman of London, who lived from around 1450 to 1520.
In the 16th century, the surname became more widespread, and several prominent individuals bore this name. One example is John Seaman, a Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake in 1558 during the reign of Queen Mary I. Another notable figure was William Seaman, a Puritan clergyman and author who lived from 1609 to 1680.
The 17th century saw the surname's continued use, with individuals like Lazarus Seaman, a prominent English clergyman and scholar who lived from 1592 to 1675. Additionally, John Seaman, a merchant and ship owner from Boston, Massachusetts, played a significant role in the colonial era, living from 1611 to 1675.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Seamen surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 25 Seamens recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.00x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 25 | 4.00x |
| Suffolk | 12 | 15.78x |
| Surrey | 8 | 2.63x |
| Norfolk | 5 | 5.21x |
| Kent | 4 | 1.88x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.65x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.27x |
| Somerset | 2 | 1.99x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 3.09x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.81x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Newington in Surrey leads with 6 Seamens recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.02x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Newington | 6 | 26.02x |
| Paddington London | 6 | 26.13x |
| St Luke London | 6 | 59.94x |
| St Pancras London | 6 | 11.94x |
| Ashbocking | 4 | 5714.29x |
| Fressingfield | 4 | 1600.00x |
| Chelsea London | 3 | 15.95x |
| Aston Cum Aughton | 2 | 392.16x |
| Great Yarmouth | 2 | 25.16x |
| Lewisham | 2 | 17.61x |
| Plumstead | 2 | 28.17x |
| Scarborough | 2 | 35.59x |
| Shottesham All Sts | 2 | 2500.00x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 17.01x |
| Hilgay | 1 | 277.78x |
| Ipswich St Lawrence | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Ipswich St Mary At Tower | 1 | 588.24x |
| Kenn | 1 | 1666.67x |
| Kingston On Thames | 1 | 13.68x |
| Leighton Buzzard | 1 | 71.94x |
| Norwood | 1 | 69.93x |
| Singleton | 1 | 1250.00x |
| St Clement Danes | 1 | 99.01x |
| St George In East | 1 | 23.53x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 3.00x |
| Taunton St Mary | 1 | 54.35x |
| West Bergholt | 1 | 434.78x |
| Westhorpe | 1 | 2000.00x |
| Woodbridge | 1 | 103.09x |
| Wotton | 1 | 666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Seamen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Seamen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Seamen households.
FAQ
In 1881, 64 people were recorded with the Seamen surname. That placed it at #24,561 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 29 in 2016. That gives Seamen a modern rank of #36,059.
An occupational surname referring to those engaged in seafaring or maritime activities.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Seamen bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.