UK surname
A surname derived from the occupation of one who sought or searched for something.
In the 1881 census there were 141 people recorded with the Seeker surname, ranking it #16,091 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #16,091 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick and Kirby, South. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Seeker is 141 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 95.7%.
1881 census count
141
Ranked #16,091
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1881
141 bearers
Map years
2
1881 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Seeker surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Seeker surname density by area, 1881 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 | 21 | #29,550 |
| 1861 | historical | 13 | #32,208 |
| 1881 | historical | 141 | #16,091 |
| 1891 | historical | 131 | #20,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 95 | #23,462 |
| 1911 | historical | 72 | #25,642 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 5 | #38,186 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 5 | #38,167 |
| 2013 | modern | 5 | #38,195 |
| 2014 | modern | 5 | #38,228 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, Kirby, South and East Dereham. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Ealing, Chiswick | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 4 | Kirby, South | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | East Dereham | Norfolk |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Seeker 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 Seeker, 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 Seeker surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Seeker 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, Seeker 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 Seeker is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Seeker, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SEEKER has its origins in England, emerging in the late 13th century during the Middle English period. It is derived from the Old English word "secan," meaning "to seek" or "to search." The name likely referred to someone who was a seeker of knowledge, a traveler, or perhaps a seeker of spiritual enlightenment.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SEEKER can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, where it is spelled "Sekeor." This suggests that the name was in use during the latter part of the 13th century in the county of Oxfordshire.
The SEEKER surname is also found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where it appears as "Sekere." This further reinforces the presence of the name in England during the early 14th century.
In the 16th century, the name SEEKER is recorded in the Parish Registers of Cheshire, where it is spelled "Seker." This variation in spelling was common during this time period due to the lack of standardized orthography.
One notable historical figure with the surname SEEKER was William Seeker (1642-1705), an English nonconformist minister and theologian. He was a prominent figure in the dissenting academies and played a significant role in the education of nonconformist ministers during his time.
Another individual of note was Richard Seeker (1693-1768), an English Anglican bishop who served as the Archbishop of Canterbury from 1758 until his death in 1768. He was a influential figure in the Church of England during the 18th century.
In the 17th century, the SEEKER surname is recorded in the Parish Registers of Gloucestershire, where it appears as "Seeker." This spelling is likely the one that became more widely adopted and standardized over time.
Thomas Seeker (1666-1736) was an English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Peterhouse, a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, from 1719 until his death.
William Seeker (1604-1663) was an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Winchelsea, Sussex, in the Long Parliament from 1640 to 1648. He was a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War.
The surname SEEKER has also been found in records from other parts of England, such as Lancashire and Yorkshire, indicating its widespread presence across various regions of the country during the medieval and early modern periods.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Seeker 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 36 Seekers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.62x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 36 | 2.62x |
| Norfolk | 30 | 14.19x |
| Surrey | 24 | 3.58x |
| Yorkshire | 23 | 1.69x |
| Northumberland | 9 | 4.40x |
| Essex | 8 | 2.95x |
| Warwickshire | 3 | 0.86x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.12x |
| Sussex | 2 | 0.86x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.21x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.45x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 0.77x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 0.54x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Holme Hale in Norfolk leads with 16 Seekers recorded in 1881 and an index of 8421.05x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Holme Hale | 16 | 8421.05x |
| Chiswick | 12 | 159.57x |
| Hornsey | 12 | 69.01x |
| South Kirkby | 10 | 3333.33x |
| Newcastle On Tyne All Sts | 9 | 73.65x |
| Lambeth | 8 | 6.67x |
| St George Hanover | 7 | 39.00x |
| Battersea | 6 | 11.86x |
| Camberwell | 6 | 6.83x |
| Hunslet | 6 | 28.24x |
| Barking | 5 | 62.97x |
| Gunthorpe | 5 | 5000.00x |
| North Pickenham | 5 | 4166.67x |
| St Pancras London | 4 | 3.61x |
| Aston | 3 | 3.14x |
| Mirfield | 3 | 40.11x |
| Reigate Foreign | 3 | 41.32x |
| West Ham | 3 | 5.01x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 2 | 5.61x |
| Dewsbury | 2 | 14.31x |
| Downham Market | 2 | 137.93x |
| Lancing | 2 | 312.50x |
| Bawdeswell | 1 | 476.19x |
| Great Grimsby | 1 | 7.16x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.31x |
| Lee | 1 | 14.68x |
| Norwich St Peter Mancroft | 1 | 94.34x |
| Peterborough | 1 | 10.67x |
| Radford | 1 | 10.62x |
| Shere | 1 | 123.46x |
| South Elmshall | 1 | 400.00x |
| Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe | 1 | 15.80x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Seeker surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Eliza | 6 |
| Sarah | 5 |
| Charlotte | 4 |
| Edith | 4 |
| Elizabeth | 4 |
| Ellen | 4 |
| Jane | 3 |
| Margaret | 3 |
| Mary | 3 |
| Agnes | 2 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Amelia | 2 |
| Clara | 2 |
| Ethel | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Isabella | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Matilda | 2 |
| Sophia | 2 |
| Susan | 2 |
| Ann | 1 |
| Betsy | 1 |
| Blanche | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Diana | 1 |
| Elina | 1 |
| Emily | 1 |
| Emma | 1 |
| Eva | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Hannah | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Lucy | 1 |
| Mabel | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| May | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Wilhemina | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Seeker 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 Seeker households.
FAQ
In 1881, 141 people were recorded with the Seeker surname. That placed it at #16,091 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Seeker a modern rank of #38,110.
A surname derived from the occupation of one who sought or searched for something.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Seeker 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.