NameCensus.

UK surname

Seath

English surname derived from the German word "schade" meaning a person who is harmed or suffers damage.

In the 1881 census there were 453 people recorded with the Seath surname, ranking it #7,289 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 720, ranked #7,543, down from #7,289 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kettle, Cupar and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kennoway and Bonnybank, Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge and Crossgates and Halbeath.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Seath is 730 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.9%.

1881 census count

453

Ranked #7,289

Modern count

720

2016, ranked #7,543

Peak year

2014

730 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Seath had 453 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,289 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 720 in 2016, ranked #7,543.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 648 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Seath surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Seath surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Seath 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 299 #7,675
1861 historical 496 #5,271
1881 historical 453 #7,289
1891 historical 578 #6,594
1901 historical 648 #6,656
1911 historical 254 #12,748
1997 modern 645 #7,704
1998 modern 660 #7,816
1999 modern 667 #7,789
2000 modern 682 #7,643
2001 modern 666 #7,652
2002 modern 687 #7,625
2003 modern 637 #7,940
2004 modern 650 #7,838
2005 modern 663 #7,671
2006 modern 649 #7,807
2007 modern 660 #7,778
2008 modern 662 #7,800
2009 modern 672 #7,886
2010 modern 678 #7,975
2011 modern 685 #7,819
2012 modern 687 #7,704
2013 modern 703 #7,697
2014 modern 730 #7,534
2015 modern 715 #7,601
2016 modern 720 #7,543

Geography

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Where Seaths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kettle, Cupar, Edinburgh, Greenock and Auchterderran. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kennoway and Bonnybank, Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge, Crossgates and Halbeath, Kinghorn and Medway. 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 Kettle Fife
2 Cupar Fife
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Greenock Renfrew
5 Auchterderran Fife

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kennoway and Bonnybank Fife
2 Buckhaven, Denbeath and Muiredge Fife
3 Crossgates and Halbeath Fife
4 Kinghorn Fife
5 Medway 011 Medway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Seath

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Seath

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Seath surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Seath household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Seath 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

Seath is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Seath falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Seath

The surname Seath has its origins in England, where it first emerged in the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "sæth," which means a pit, ditch, or trench, suggesting that the original bearers of this name may have lived near such a geographic feature or worked as diggers or excavators.

Seath is also thought to have some connections to the town of Seaton in Devon, England, which was formerly spelled as "Seton" or "Seaton." It's possible that the surname Seath could have originated from this place name, with early bearers hailing from or being associated with this area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Seath surname can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Cumberland, England, from the year 1332, where a Thomas de Seythe is mentioned. This entry suggests that the name was already in use and potentially established by the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the Seath surname appears in various historical records, such as the Feet of Fines for Essex in 1551, which mentions a Richard Seath, and the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1594, where a William Seath is listed.

Notable individuals bearing the Seath surname throughout history include:

1. John Seath (c. 1610-1675), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Portslade in Sussex. 2. Robert Seath (1688-1758), a Scottish minister and poet who served as the minister of Tullynessle in Aberdeenshire. 3. William Seath (1759-1836), a Scottish banker and merchant who co-founded the Dundee Banking Company. 4. James Seath (1805-1883), a Scottish-born Canadian businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Ottawa from 1864 to 1866. 5. Henry Seath (1816-1891), a Scottish-born Canadian politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons of Canada from 1867 to 1872.

The Seath surname has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Seeth, Seethe, Seyth, Seith, and Seithe, reflecting the changes in pronunciation and regional dialects across different parts of England and Scotland.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Seath families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Seath 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. Fife leads with 195 Seaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.38x.

County Total Index
Fife 195 75.38x
Kent 111 7.44x
Middlesex 29 0.66x
Midlothian 28 4.78x
Renfrewshire 18 5.31x
Angus 16 3.95x
Lancashire 11 0.21x
Lanarkshire 10 0.71x
Ayrshire 8 2.45x
Yorkshire 4 0.09x
Durham 3 0.23x
Surrey 3 0.14x
Essex 2 0.23x
Perthshire 2 1.02x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.85x
Northumberland 1 0.15x
Ross-shire 1 0.83x
Roxburghshire 1 1.26x
Rutland 1 3.12x
Sussex 1 0.14x
West Lothian 1 1.52x
Wiltshire 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Auchterderran in Fife leads with 37 Seaths recorded in 1881 and an index of 569.23x.

Place Total Index
Auchterderran 37 569.23x
Aberdour 34 1302.68x
Cupar 14 124.44x
Falkland 14 343.98x
Kettle 14 450.16x
Auchtermuchty 11 317.00x
Kinghorn 11 200.36x
Kirkcaldy 11 85.74x
Lasswade 11 82.15x
Alkham 10 1162.79x
Dover St Mary Virgin 10 69.30x
Parr 10 53.91x
St Pancras London 10 2.84x
Swingfield 10 1724.14x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 3.82x
Liff Benvie 9 14.64x
Dunfermline 8 20.11x
Herne 8 121.21x
Reculver 8 1777.78x
West Kilbride 8 256.41x
Dundee 7 4.63x
Erskine 7 284.55x
Leslie 7 106.87x
Bow London 6 10.79x
Chislet 6 357.14x
Hougham 6 67.64x
Islington London 6 1.42x
Margate St John Baptist 6 21.98x
St Andrews 6 50.98x
Wickhambreux 6 821.92x
Barham 5 328.95x
Barony 5 1.40x
Beath 5 61.12x
Burntisland 5 69.16x
Canterbury St Gregory 5 255.10x
Ceres 5 160.77x
West Greenock 5 8.23x
Edinburgh St Marys 4 35.15x
Folkestone 4 13.83x
Kemback 4 312.50x
River 4 421.05x
St Marylebone London 4 1.71x
Canterbury St Peter 3 178.57x
Dalgety 3 151.52x
East Greenock 3 9.38x
Eastwood 3 14.38x
Hamilton 3 7.61x
Hawkinge 3 1666.67x
Minster In Sheppey 3 12.15x
Wingham 3 174.42x
Bridlington 2 20.18x
Camberwell 2 0.72x
Denton In Dover 2 1000.00x
Eastry 2 96.62x
Edinburgh St Stephens 2 17.36x
Govan 2 0.57x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 2 3.55x
Holy Trinity 2 1.92x
Romford 2 14.66x
Ash Next Sandwich 1 30.30x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.53x
Birchington 1 47.85x
Bonhill 1 5.31x
Buckland In Dover 1 20.24x
Canterbury St Mary 1 9.99x
Dorking 1 6.99x
Forgan 1 20.16x
Forgandenny 1 106.38x
Leuchars 1 30.58x
Moss Side 1 3.66x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 1 2.58x
North Leith 1 3.69x
Penicuik 1 12.56x
Scoonie 1 17.86x
South Luffenham 1 196.08x
St Madoes 1 212.77x
St Martin Ludgate 1 666.67x
Stockton On Tees 1 1.60x
Stornoway 1 6.39x
Whitburn 1 10.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 7
Jane 6
Mary 6
Ann 4
Alice 3
Charlotte 3
Ellen 3
Louisa 3
Minnie 3
Annie 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Esther 2
Frances 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Sarah 2
Anne 1
Bella 1
Caroline 1
Celia 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizath. 1
Emily 1
Eveline 1
Fanny 1
Grace 1
Hannah 1
Harriott 1
Janet 1
Julia 1
Lilian 1
Lottie 1
Mable 1
Matilda 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Thomasine 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 11
Edward 10
John 10
William 9
Henry 5
Charles 3
Frank 3
James 3
Thomas 3
Alexander 2
Andrew 2
Herbert 2
Joseph 2
Michael 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Alex. 1
Alfred 1
Arthur 1
Clive 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Ethelbert 1
Francis 1
Frederick 1
Gerald 1
Harry 1
Lewis 1
Marsh 1
Richard 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Seath surname: questions and answers

How common was the Seath surname in 1881?

In 1881, 453 people were recorded with the Seath surname. That placed it at #7,289 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Seath surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 720 in 2016. That gives Seath a modern rank of #7,543.

What does the Seath surname mean?

English surname derived from the German word "schade" meaning a person who is harmed or suffers damage.

What does the Seath map show?

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