NameCensus.

UK surname

Seaward

A surname derived from a location near the sea.

In the 1881 census there were 518 people recorded with the Seaward surname, ranking it #6,583 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 754, ranked #7,258, down from #6,583 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Seaton, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Mendip and Torfaen.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Seaward is 847 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.6%.

1881 census count

518

Ranked #6,583

Modern count

754

2016, ranked #7,258

Peak year

1998

847 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Seaward had 518 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,583 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 754 in 2016, ranked #7,258.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 774 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Seaward surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Seaward surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Seaward 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 326 #7,136
1861 historical 412 #6,237
1881 historical 518 #6,583
1891 historical 598 #6,402
1901 historical 744 #5,980
1911 historical 774 #5,608
1997 modern 822 #6,400
1998 modern 847 #6,459
1999 modern 842 #6,534
2000 modern 816 #6,676
2001 modern 793 #6,686
2002 modern 817 #6,652
2003 modern 792 #6,701
2004 modern 794 #6,712
2005 modern 778 #6,751
2006 modern 761 #6,903
2007 modern 762 #6,964
2008 modern 762 #7,024
2009 modern 793 #6,944
2010 modern 803 #7,003
2011 modern 788 #7,045
2012 modern 757 #7,172
2013 modern 782 #7,100
2014 modern 783 #7,124
2015 modern 771 #7,149
2016 modern 754 #7,258

Geography

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Where Seawards are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Seaton, London parishes, St Pancras and Colyton, South Leigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Mendip and Torfaen. 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 Seaton Devon
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Colyton, South Leigh Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 008 County Durham
2 Mendip 014 Mendip
3 Mendip 012 Mendip
4 County Durham 009 County Durham
5 Torfaen 001 Torfaen

Forenames

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First names often paired with Seaward

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Seaward

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Seaward surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Seaward household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Seaward is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Seaward 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

Seaward falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Seaward is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Seaward

The surname Seaward has its origins in medieval England, where it first emerged as a locational name for someone who lived near the sea or by the coast. It is derived from the Old English words "sæ" meaning sea, and "weard" meaning guard or keeper, suggesting that the earliest bearers of this name may have lived in coastal regions and were tasked with guarding or keeping watch over the shoreline.

During the medieval period, the name Seaward was particularly prevalent in coastal areas of southern and eastern England, such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Kent. It is recorded in various spellings, including Seward, Seeward, and Sheeward, reflecting the regional variations in dialect and pronunciation at the time.

One of the earliest known records of the name Seaward can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Siwardus" and "Siwart." This suggests that the name had already established itself in England by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, a notable figure with the surname Seaward was Sir John Seaward, a knight who fought in the Crusades and was known for his bravery and valor on the battlefield. Another prominent individual was William Seaward, a wealthy merchant from Norfolk who lived in the 14th century and was involved in the wool trade with continental Europe.

During the Tudor period, the name Seaward was associated with the coastal town of Seaward, located in Northumberland. This place name likely influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in that region.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the name was Thomas Seaward, a renowned maritime explorer and navigator who sailed extensively in the Atlantic and Caribbean. His exploits and discoveries contributed to the expansion of British naval power and trade during that era.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Seaward, born in 1675, who was one of the earliest female writers and poets in England. Her works, although not widely published during her lifetime, provided a glimpse into the literary talents of women in the late 17th century.

As the centuries passed, the Seaward surname continued to be associated with coastal regions and maritime activities, reflecting the name's origins and historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Seaward families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Seaward 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 124 Seawards recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.43x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 124 2.43x
Devon 110 10.34x
Hampshire 58 5.54x
Surrey 46 1.85x
Berkshire 28 7.30x
Somerset 28 3.40x
Kent 24 1.38x
Dorset 15 4.47x
Northamptonshire 9 1.87x
Staffordshire 8 0.46x
Wiltshire 8 1.77x
Lancashire 7 0.12x
Essex 6 0.59x
Shropshire 6 1.36x
Sussex 6 0.70x
Durham 5 0.33x
Royal Navy 5 8.21x
Gloucestershire 4 0.40x
Suffolk 4 0.64x
Yorkshire 4 0.08x
Glamorgan 3 0.34x
Herefordshire 3 1.43x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.65x
Cornwall 2 0.35x
Monmouthshire 2 0.54x
Channel Islands 1 0.66x
Hertfordshire 1 0.28x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.99x
Lincolnshire 1 0.12x
Merionethshire 1 1.07x
Norfolk 1 0.13x
Warwickshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Seaton in Devon leads with 27 Seawards recorded in 1881 and an index of 658.54x.

Place Total Index
Seaton 27 658.54x
Chiselborough 15 2380.95x
Tottenham 14 17.20x
Shoreditch London 13 5.87x
St Pancras London 13 3.16x
Croydon 12 8.68x
Deptford St Paul 12 8.92x
Andover 11 111.11x
Camberwell 10 3.06x
Kensington London 10 3.52x
Dartington 9 810.81x
Lambeth 9 2.02x
Nether Wallop 9 652.17x
Portland 9 49.89x
Hanwell 8 88.30x
Reading St Giles 8 21.25x
St Luke London 8 9.76x
Standground 8 347.83x
Wokingham 8 91.32x
Alderbury 7 330.19x
Brixham 7 56.77x
Earley 7 109.55x
Plymouth St Andrew 7 8.54x
St Marylebone London 7 2.56x
Upper Arley 7 546.88x
Whitchurch 7 374.33x
Bethnal Green London 6 2.70x
Colyton 6 146.70x
Hackney London 6 2.09x
North Tawton 6 183.49x
Stockland 6 389.61x
Bromley London 5 4.45x
Broughton 5 316.46x
Chester Le Street 5 42.81x
Combe St Nicholas 5 251.26x
Islington London 5 1.01x
Monxton 5 1063.83x
Royal Navy 5 9.60x
Warfield 5 143.68x
Abbotts Ann 4 338.98x
Alverstoke 4 10.55x
Bearsted 4 380.95x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 4.24x
Broadwinsor 4 181.82x
East Stonehouse 4 19.08x
Lowestoft 4 13.60x
Newington 4 2.12x
Rye 4 48.84x
St Martin In Fields 4 13.07x
Tedburn St Mary 4 357.14x
Walthanstow 4 239.52x
Wandsworth 4 8.13x
Branscombe 3 205.48x
Breinton 3 365.85x
Bridgnorth St Mary 3 69.61x
Exeter St Lawrence 3 375.00x
Hampton London 3 35.71x
Hawley 3 152.28x
Holy Trinity 3 2.46x
Itchen Stoke 3 612.24x
Paddington London 3 1.60x
Ryde 3 13.33x
Sampford Courtenay 3 188.68x
Spreyton 3 447.76x
St George Hanover 3 4.50x
West Monkton 3 165.75x
Westminster St James 3 5.71x
Worfield 3 97.72x
Beddington 2 20.77x
Chilbolton 2 333.33x
Compton Dando 2 350.88x
Holy Trinity Less 2 181.82x
Hulme 2 1.58x
Lewisham 2 2.15x
Liverpool 2 0.54x
Lyme Regis 2 49.75x
Minster In Sheppey 2 6.92x
Northwood 2 13.40x
Portsea 2 0.97x
Princes Risborough 2 48.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 39
Elizabeth 22
Ann 14
Sarah 13
Eliza 10
Ellen 10
Jane 10
Emily 9
Emma 8
Alice 7
Annie 6
Fanny 6
Anne 5
Louisa 5
Harriett 4
Jessie 4
Martha 4
Susan 4
Amelia 3
Harriet 3
Kate 3
Lucy 3
Margaret 3
Matilda 3
Selina 3
Agnes 2
Bessie 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Frances 2
Georgiana 2
Gertrude 2
Laura 2
Lydia 2
Mabel 2
Marian 2
Rosa 2
Anna 1
Betsy 1
Caroline 1
Caterina 1
Elizabth. 1
Elizbeth 1
Elliys 1
Ethel 1
Irena 1
Jemima 1
Jemina 1
Julia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 36
John 32
James 23
George 20
Henry 12
Charles 11
Thomas 11
Samuel 10
Alfred 7
Arthur 6
Walter 5
Edwin 4
Frank 4
Frederick 4
Harry 4
Joseph 4
Richard 4
Albert 3
David 3
Edward 3
Robert 3
Stephen 3
Benjamin 2
Eli 2
Francis 2
Thos. 2
Basil 1
Christopher 1
Clifford 1
Dennis 1
Earnest 1
Ebenezer 1
Ella 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
G.E. 1
Geo. 1
Jacob 1
Jas. 1
Jas.B. 1
Laban 1
Lionel 1
Mathew 1
Montague 1
Phillip 1
Pierce 1
Rich. 1
Richd. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Seaward surname: questions and answers

How common was the Seaward surname in 1881?

In 1881, 518 people were recorded with the Seaward surname. That placed it at #6,583 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Seaward surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 754 in 2016. That gives Seaward a modern rank of #7,258.

What does the Seaward surname mean?

A surname derived from a location near the sea.

What does the Seaward map show?

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