NameCensus.

UK surname

Seare

An English surname possibly derived from the Middle English word "sere" meaning withered or dry.

In the 1881 census there were 81 people recorded with the Seare surname, ranking it #22,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 142, ranked #24,625, down from #22,082 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cherry Hinton, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leicester, East Dorset and Bournemouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Seare is 146 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.3%.

1881 census count

81

Ranked #22,082

Modern count

142

2016, ranked #24,625

Peak year

1861

146 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Seare had 81 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,082 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016, ranked #24,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 146 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Seare surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Seare surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Seare 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 72 #20,720
1861 historical 146 #15,628
1881 historical 81 #22,082
1891 historical 85 #26,080
1901 historical 82 #25,019
1911 historical 110 #21,519
1997 modern 120 #24,158
1998 modern 133 #23,308
1999 modern 128 #24,017
2000 modern 128 #24,015
2001 modern 122 #24,366
2002 modern 125 #24,492
2003 modern 136 #23,045
2004 modern 130 #23,902
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 118 #25,556
2007 modern 123 #25,208
2008 modern 131 #24,583
2009 modern 133 #24,817
2010 modern 135 #25,127
2011 modern 143 #24,056
2012 modern 144 #23,902
2013 modern 145 #24,207
2014 modern 142 #24,734
2015 modern 140 #24,836
2016 modern 142 #24,625

Geography

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Where Seares are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cherry Hinton, London parishes, St Pancras, Toxteth Park and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leicester, East Dorset, Bournemouth and Bromley. 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 Cherry Hinton Cambridgeshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Toxteth Park Lancashire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leicester 026 Leicester
2 East Dorset 005 East Dorset
3 Leicester 028 Leicester
4 Bournemouth 008 Bournemouth
5 Bromley 032 Bromley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Seare

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Seare

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Seare surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Seare household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Seare is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Seare 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

Seare falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Seare is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Seare

The surname SEARE has its origins in England, where it first appeared in the county of Essex during the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "sær," which means "a wound or sore." The name likely referred to someone who had a distinctive scar or wound, or perhaps a healer who treated such injuries.

The earliest recorded instance of the name SEARE can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a John Seare residing in Essex. In the following century, the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 mention a Robert Sere, also from Essex. This variation in spelling was common in those times, as standardized spellings had not yet been established.

During the 14th century, the name SEARE appeared in several historical records, including the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, where a William Sere is mentioned in 1348. The Pipe Rolls were financial records maintained by the Exchequer, providing insight into the economic activities of the time.

One notable individual bearing the SEARE surname was John Seare, a prominent merchant from Bristol who lived during the late 15th century. His successful trading ventures in the city are documented in various records from that period.

In the 16th century, the name SEARE can be found in the parish records of St. Giles, Cripplegate, London, where a Thomas Seare was christened in 1587. This church, located in the heart of the city, was a significant religious and social center during that time.

Another notable figure was Sir John Seare, who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1618. Born in 1570, he was a respected merchant and held significant influence in the city's affairs during his tenure as mayor.

The surname SEARE also has connections to the village of Shere in Surrey, which was originally spelled "Shere" or "Shyre" in ancient records. It is possible that some individuals with the SEARE surname may have originated from or been associated with this location.

While the SEARE surname is not among the most common in England, it has persisted throughout the centuries, with various branches and individuals making their mark in different regions and professions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Seare families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Seare 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 18 Seares recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.10x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 18 2.10x
Surrey 12 2.87x
Berkshire 9 13.97x
Kent 8 2.73x
Durham 7 2.74x
Isle of Man 7 43.91x
Hampshire 6 3.41x
Dorset 5 8.88x
Hertfordshire 5 8.45x
Warwickshire 4 1.85x
Norfolk 3 2.27x
Lancashire 2 0.20x
Bedfordshire 1 2.25x
Herefordshire 1 2.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 10 Seares recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.02x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 10 12.02x
Abingdon St Helen 9 478.72x
Hamsterley 7 5000.00x
Maughold 7 569.11x
Lee 5 117.65x
Southwark Christchurch 5 124.38x
Christchurch 4 104.99x
St Albans St Michael 4 606.06x
Bridport 3 258.62x
Chelsea London 3 11.60x
Hardingham 3 2000.00x
Kingston On Thames 3 29.85x
Sundridge 3 612.24x
Aston 2 3.36x
Birmingham 2 2.77x
Everton 2 6.16x
Holdenhurst 2 43.38x
Penge 2 36.50x
St Pancras London 2 2.89x
Cowley 1 666.67x
Croydon 1 4.31x
Luton 1 13.00x
Lyonshall 1 384.62x
Mile End Old Town 1 7.38x
Moore Critchell 1 909.09x
Shoreditch London 1 2.69x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 5.79x
Watford 1 21.79x
Wimborne 1 147.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Annie 4
Sarah 4
Elizabeth 3
Emma 3
Jane 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Eliza 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Susan 2
Anna 1
Bessa 1
Cecilia 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Heleonor 1
Janet 1
Lydia 1
Maria 1
Mariann 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
Rachel 1
Victoria 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 8
John 5
George 4
Alfred 3
Robert 2
Albert 1
Brigham 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Elijah 1
Frederick 1
Fredric 1
Harold 1
Henry 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Ralph 1
Samuel 1
Slade 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Seare surname: questions and answers

How common was the Seare surname in 1881?

In 1881, 81 people were recorded with the Seare surname. That placed it at #22,082 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Seare surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016. That gives Seare a modern rank of #24,625.

What does the Seare surname mean?

An English surname possibly derived from the Middle English word "sere" meaning withered or dry.

What does the Seare map show?

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