UK surname
An occupational surname referring to a sieve or sifter maker or user.
In the 1881 census there were 25 people recorded with the Seaver surname, ranking it #30,077 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 33, ranked #35,829, down from #30,077 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wiveliscombe and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Seaver is 119 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.0%.
1881 census count
25
Ranked #30,077
Modern count
33
2016, ranked #35,829
Peak year
1861
119 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Seaver surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Seaver surname density by area, 1861 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 | 43 | #25,518 |
| 1861 | historical | 119 | #18,393 |
| 1881 | historical | 25 | #30,077 |
| 1891 | historical | 71 | #27,934 |
| 1901 | historical | 29 | #30,848 |
| 1911 | historical | 45 | #28,332 |
| 1997 | modern | 30 | #34,701 |
| 1998 | modern | 32 | #34,633 |
| 1999 | modern | 32 | #34,717 |
| 2000 | modern | 25 | #35,382 |
| 2001 | modern | 26 | #35,152 |
| 2002 | modern | 23 | #35,606 |
| 2003 | modern | 23 | #35,650 |
| 2004 | modern | 26 | #35,519 |
| 2005 | modern | 22 | #35,993 |
| 2006 | modern | 23 | #36,054 |
| 2007 | modern | 31 | #35,592 |
| 2008 | modern | 31 | #35,670 |
| 2009 | modern | 31 | #35,794 |
| 2010 | modern | 32 | #35,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 35 | #35,659 |
| 2012 | modern | 34 | #35,711 |
| 2013 | modern | 35 | #35,697 |
| 2014 | modern | 36 | #35,662 |
| 2015 | modern | 35 | #35,702 |
| 2016 | modern | 33 | #35,829 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Wiveliscombe, Bradford, Blackburn and Fordingbridge, Rockbourn. 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 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Wiveliscombe | Somerset |
| 3 | Bradford | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Blackburn | Lancashire |
| 5 | Fordingbridge, Rockbourn | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Seaver 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 Seaver, 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 Seaver surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Seaver 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, Seaver 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 Seaver is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Seaver, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Seaver is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known roots dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "sæfere," which means "traveler" or "seafarer." It was likely an occupational surname given to individuals who worked as sailors, merchants, or explorers.
During the Middle Ages, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Seavere, Seyver, and Seyvour, reflecting the phonetic variations of the time. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1166, where a certain William Seavere is mentioned.
The Seaver surname has been associated with several notable figures throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir Henry Seaver, a prominent landowner and member of the English gentry who lived in the 14th century. He was known for his involvement in local politics and his ownership of substantial estates in Warwickshire.
In the 16th century, the name gained further recognition with the exploits of Edward Seaver, an English explorer and navigator who accompanied Sir Francis Drake on his famous voyages to the West Indies and the Americas. Born in 1570, Seaver played a crucial role in mapping various coastal regions and establishing trade routes for the English Crown.
Another distinguished bearer of the Seaver name was John Seaver, a Puritan minister and author who lived from 1614 to 1680. He was a prominent figure in the early days of the Massachusetts Bay Colony and is remembered for his scholarly works on theology and his contributions to the establishment of the colonial government.
The Seaver surname has also been linked to several locations throughout England, such as Seavers in Hertfordshire and Seaver's Cleeve in Gloucestershire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the Seaver surname who owned or resided in those areas.
In more recent times, the name has been carried by notable individuals such as Benjamin Seaver, an American author and historian born in 1785, and James Everell Seaver, a British-born Australian politician and pastoralist who lived from 1808 to 1905.
While the origins of the Seaver surname can be traced back to England, it has since spread to various parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and other English-speaking regions, where it continues to be used and recognized as a surname with a rich historical heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Seaver 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 11 Seavers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.51x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 11 | 4.51x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 5.58x |
| Northumberland | 3 | 8.28x |
| Kent | 2 | 2.41x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 5.47x |
| Dorset | 1 | 6.25x |
| Essex | 1 | 2.08x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 1.27x |
| Somerset | 1 | 2.55x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.84x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 4 Seavers recorded in 1881 and an index of 44.64x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Paddington London | 4 | 44.64x |
| Finchley | 3 | 322.58x |
| Hackney London | 3 | 21.96x |
| Hyde | 3 | 188.68x |
| Tynemouth | 3 | 154.64x |
| Bruton | 1 | 666.67x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 7.15x |
| Mortlake | 1 | 188.68x |
| Northfleet | 1 | 136.99x |
| Reading St Giles | 1 | 55.87x |
| Shelley | 1 | 5000.00x |
| Sherborne | 1 | 212.77x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 7.69x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 33.33x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Seaver 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 Seaver 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 Seaver households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Annuitant | 1 |
| Assistant Job Master | 1 |
| Bisct Fty Lab | 1 |
| Clergymans Wife | 1 |
| Cook (Dom Serv) | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Domestic Servt | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Footman Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Governess | 1 |
| Job Master | 1 |
| Leather Merchant | 1 |
| Mechanic Fitter | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Vicar St George Culbert (Clergyman) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 25 people were recorded with the Seaver surname. That placed it at #30,077 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 33 in 2016. That gives Seaver a modern rank of #35,829.
An occupational surname referring to a sieve or sifter maker or user.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Seaver 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.