NameCensus.

UK surname

Seeds

A surname referring to someone descended from a person who grew seeds or crops.

In the 1881 census there were 125 people recorded with the Seeds surname, ranking it #17,335 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 198, ranked #19,713, down from #17,335 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Peter, Stockport and Shirland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Newark and Sherwood, Huntingdonshire and Bromley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Seeds is 241 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.4%.

1881 census count

125

Ranked #17,335

Modern count

198

2016, ranked #19,713

Peak year

1998

241 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Seeds had 125 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,335 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016, ranked #19,713.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 202 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Seeds surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Seeds surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Seeds 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 143 #13,343
1861 historical 202 #11,906
1881 historical 125 #17,335
1891 historical 170 #16,816
1901 historical 192 #15,518
1911 historical 190 #15,438
1997 modern 232 #16,012
1998 modern 241 #16,065
1999 modern 241 #16,179
2000 modern 227 #16,792
2001 modern 229 #16,467
2002 modern 234 #16,543
2003 modern 218 #17,131
2004 modern 219 #17,180
2005 modern 220 #17,078
2006 modern 207 #17,892
2007 modern 209 #17,951
2008 modern 206 #18,300
2009 modern 209 #18,493
2010 modern 211 #18,774
2011 modern 201 #19,213
2012 modern 188 #20,018
2013 modern 191 #20,124
2014 modern 196 #19,961
2015 modern 198 #19,714
2016 modern 198 #19,713

Geography

Back to top

Where Seeds' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Peter, Stockport, Shirland, New Abbey and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Newark and Sherwood, Huntingdonshire, Bromley, Stockport and Derby. 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 St Peter Derbyshire
2 Stockport Cheshire
3 Shirland Derbyshire
4 New Abbey Kirkcudbright
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Newark and Sherwood 001 Newark and Sherwood
2 Huntingdonshire 004 Huntingdonshire
3 Bromley 029 Bromley
4 Stockport 024 Stockport
5 Derby 003 Derby

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Seeds

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Seeds

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Seeds surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Seeds household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Seeds is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Seeds 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

Seeds 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 Seeds 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 Seeds, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Seeds

The surname "SEEDS" is of English origin, and it is believed to have emerged in the medieval period, around the 12th or 13th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English word "saed," which means "seed" or "sowing." It was likely an occupational surname given to those involved in agriculture or seed trading.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to various regions of England, particularly in areas known for their agricultural heritage, such as the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, there is a reference to a William Sed from Lincolnshire, which could be an early variant spelling of the name.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was John Sedys, who was mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327. Another notable figure was Sir Richard Seedes, a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Yorkshire during the 15th century.

In the 16th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Parish Registers of St. Mary's Church in Beverley, Yorkshire, where a John Seedes was recorded in 1585. Around the same time, a Richard Seeds was listed in the Musters of the County of Yorkshire in 1539.

Among the notable individuals with the surname "SEEDS" throughout history are:

1. Thomas Seeds (c. 1615-1674), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Badsworth, Yorkshire. 2. John Seeds (1667-1747), an English mathematician and astronomer who published works on navigation and astronomy. 3. Samuel Seeds (1732-1804), an English dissenting minister and tutor who established a successful academy in Shrewsbury. 4. Mary Seeds (1808-1879), a Scottish writer and advocate for women's rights, known for her work "The Plant World in Field and Garden." 5. William Seeds (1869-1940), a British architect and designer who specialized in church architecture and worked on various projects in London and the surrounding areas.

It is worth noting that the name "SEEDS" has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Seedley in Lancashire and Seedes Hill in Derbyshire, further supporting its connection to agricultural roots.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Seeds families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Seeds 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. Lancashire leads with 29 Seeds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.00x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 29 2.00x
Derbyshire 22 11.53x
Surrey 10 1.68x
Yorkshire 9 0.75x
Cumberland 8 7.62x
Cheshire 6 2.23x
Durham 6 1.65x
Middlesex 6 0.49x
Nottinghamshire 6 3.65x
Suffolk 5 3.37x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 22.66x
Clackmannanshire 3 29.79x
Midlothian 3 1.84x
Dumfriesshire 2 7.43x
Essex 2 0.83x
Lanarkshire 2 0.51x
Angus 1 0.89x
Cornwall 1 0.72x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wirksworth in Derbyshire leads with 10 Seeds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 574.71x.

Place Total Index
Wirksworth 10 574.71x
Gildersome 8 551.72x
Litchurch 8 104.17x
Manchester 8 12.30x
Bridekirk 6 714.29x
Radford Lenton 6 1463.41x
Stockport 6 43.32x
Gateshead 5 18.42x
Hornsey 5 32.43x
Oldham 5 10.71x
Southwark St George Martyr 5 20.38x
Woodbridge 5 263.16x
Gorton 4 29.41x
Hulme 4 13.25x
Widnes 4 38.35x
Alloa 3 61.48x
Clapham 3 19.69x
Newabbey 3 789.47x
Dumfries 2 75.19x
Heaton Norris 2 24.30x
Newington 2 4.44x
South Leith 2 10.88x
Alfreton 1 17.24x
Barony 1 1.00x
Chigwell 1 44.05x
Clitheroe 1 23.47x
Cockermouth 1 45.25x
Edinburgh St Georges 1 29.50x
Govan 1 1.03x
Great Stanmore 1 181.82x
Lamplugh 1 188.68x
Liverpool 1 1.14x
Montrose 1 14.62x
Newbold Dunston 1 55.25x
Padstow 1 108.70x
Pentrich 1 93.46x
Rerrick 1 131.58x
Sheffield 1 2.60x
Sherburn 1 90.91x
South Normanton 1 74.63x
Woodford 1 36.76x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 10
Sarah 6
Elizabeth 4
Margaret 3
Anne 2
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Hannah 2
Jane 2
Matilda 2
Agnes 1
Ann 1
Catherine 1
Cathne. 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Francies 1
Helen 1
Joannah 1
Julia 1
Lily 1
Marguretta 1
Rachel 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Seeds surname: questions and answers

How common was the Seeds surname in 1881?

In 1881, 125 people were recorded with the Seeds surname. That placed it at #17,335 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Seeds surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 198 in 2016. That gives Seeds a modern rank of #19,713.

What does the Seeds surname mean?

A surname referring to someone descended from a person who grew seeds or crops.

What does the Seeds map show?

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