UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the military rank of sergeant.
In the 1881 census there were 79 people recorded with the Seargeant surname, ranking it #22,357 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 50, ranked #34,889, down from #22,357 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Trowbridge and Peterborough St John the Baptist. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Seargeant is 121 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 36.7%.
1881 census count
79
Ranked #22,357
Modern count
50
2016, ranked #34,889
Peak year
1911
121 bearers
Map years
4
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Seargeant surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Seargeant surname density by area, 1911 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 | 42 | #25,706 |
| 1861 | historical | 115 | #18,880 |
| 1881 | historical | 79 | #22,357 |
| 1891 | historical | 104 | #23,388 |
| 1901 | historical | 103 | #22,444 |
| 1911 | historical | 121 | #20,336 |
| 1997 | modern | 60 | #31,629 |
| 1998 | modern | 61 | #31,841 |
| 1999 | modern | 68 | #31,311 |
| 2000 | modern | 61 | #32,039 |
| 2001 | modern | 64 | #31,602 |
| 2002 | modern | 63 | #32,113 |
| 2003 | modern | 60 | #32,446 |
| 2004 | modern | 57 | #32,968 |
| 2005 | modern | 53 | #33,528 |
| 2006 | modern | 53 | #33,854 |
| 2007 | modern | 55 | #33,965 |
| 2008 | modern | 55 | #34,165 |
| 2009 | modern | 58 | #34,144 |
| 2010 | modern | 58 | #34,346 |
| 2011 | modern | 56 | #34,450 |
| 2012 | modern | 51 | #34,756 |
| 2013 | modern | 50 | #34,891 |
| 2014 | modern | 50 | #34,927 |
| 2015 | modern | 50 | #34,886 |
| 2016 | modern | 50 | #34,889 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Trowbridge, Peterborough St John the Baptist, Abergavenny and St Mary Islington. 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 | Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff | Gloucestershire |
| 2 | Trowbridge | Wiltshire |
| 3 | Peterborough St John the Baptist | Northamptonshire |
| 4 | Abergavenny | Monmouthshire |
| 5 | St Mary Islington | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Seargeant 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 Seargeant, 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 Seargeant surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Seargeant 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, Seargeant 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 Seargeant is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Seargeant, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Seargeant is of English origin, derived from the Old French word "sergent" which in turn came from the Latin "servientem" meaning "servant" or "attendant." It was initially an occupational surname given to a person who served as a servant or attendant to someone of higher rank or status.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname dates back to the late 12th century in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, where a man named Richard le Sergeaunt was mentioned in 1198. This early spelling variation highlights the Norman French influence on the name's development.
During the Middle Ages, the name Seargeant was often associated with individuals who served as officers of the law or in military roles. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a reference is made to a William le Sergeant who held a position of authority in Oxfordshire.
By the 14th century, the surname had become more widespread in various parts of England, particularly in counties like Dorset, Somerset, and Wiltshire. One notable bearer of the name was John Seargeant, a prominent lawyer and judge who lived from 1545 to 1607 and served as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of King James I.
Another significant figure in history with the surname Seargeant was Thomas Seargeant, an English mathematician and astronomer who lived from 1624 to 1701. He made valuable contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and was a fellow of the Royal Society.
In the 18th century, the name was further spread across England and Scotland, with several variations in spelling, including Sargent, Sargeant, and Sergeant. One notable bearer from this period was John Sargeant, a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and was involved in the Battle of Yorktown in 1781.
In the 19th century, the Seargeant surname was carried by individuals from various walks of life, including artists, writers, and politicians. One such individual was John Seargeant, an English painter who lived from 1828 to 1905 and was known for his landscapes and portraits.
As the name spread across the English-speaking world through migration and colonization, it also took on various spellings and pronunciations in different regions. However, the original meaning and connection to service and authority have remained consistent throughout its history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Seargeant 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. Lancashire leads with 14 Seargeants recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.51x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 14 | 1.51x |
| Middlesex | 14 | 1.79x |
| Northamptonshire | 13 | 17.71x |
| Gloucestershire | 11 | 7.19x |
| Surrey | 9 | 2.37x |
| Cornwall | 3 | 3.40x |
| Somerset | 3 | 2.39x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 1.25x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.75x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 0.76x |
| Wiltshire | 2 | 2.90x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.26x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 2.12x |
| Essex | 1 | 0.65x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.51x |
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 11 Seargeants recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.54x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Islington London | 11 | 14.54x |
| Everton | 7 | 23.72x |
| Little Hulton | 7 | 457.52x |
| Newborough | 7 | 3684.21x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 6 | 41.64x |
| Peterborough | 6 | 112.99x |
| Camberwell | 5 | 10.03x |
| Westbury On Trym | 5 | 96.53x |
| Bedminster | 3 | 25.42x |
| Calstock | 3 | 173.41x |
| Croydon | 2 | 9.47x |
| Lofthouse | 2 | 173.91x |
| Mile End Old Town | 2 | 16.23x |
| Trowbridge | 2 | 65.57x |
| Brill | 1 | 285.71x |
| Castle Church | 1 | 63.29x |
| Charlton Next Woolwich | 1 | 35.97x |
| Clapham | 1 | 10.25x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 10.13x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.47x |
| Margate St John Baptist | 1 | 20.53x |
| Portsea | 1 | 3.19x |
| Rayleigh | 1 | 285.71x |
| Rugby | 1 | 37.59x |
| St Swithin Winchester | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Stafford St Mary | 1 | 26.81x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Seargeant 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 Seargeant 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 Seargeant households.
FAQ
In 1881, 79 people were recorded with the Seargeant surname. That placed it at #22,357 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 50 in 2016. That gives Seargeant a modern rank of #34,889.
An occupational surname derived from the military rank of sergeant.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Seargeant 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.