NameCensus.

UK surname

Seeley

Derived from a place name meaning "sallow wood," referring to a copse of sallow (willow) trees.

In the 1881 census there were 915 people recorded with the Seeley surname, ranking it #4,192 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,524, ranked #4,064, up from #4,192 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Suffolk, St Edmundsbury and Horsham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Seeley is 1,639 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 66.6%.

1881 census count

915

Ranked #4,192

Modern count

1,524

2016, ranked #4,064

Peak year

2000

1,639 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Seeley had 915 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,192 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,524 in 2016, ranked #4,064.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,334 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Seeley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Seeley surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Seeley 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 354 #6,678
1861 historical 362 #7,062
1881 historical 915 #4,192
1891 historical 931 #4,447
1901 historical 1,334 #3,753
1911 historical 1,265 #3,758
1997 modern 1,609 #3,683
1998 modern 1,620 #3,797
1999 modern 1,616 #3,835
2000 modern 1,639 #3,766
2001 modern 1,582 #3,815
2002 modern 1,591 #3,877
2003 modern 1,558 #3,866
2004 modern 1,572 #3,839
2005 modern 1,546 #3,850
2006 modern 1,524 #3,908
2007 modern 1,537 #3,905
2008 modern 1,530 #3,941
2009 modern 1,557 #3,978
2010 modern 1,585 #3,990
2011 modern 1,568 #3,984
2012 modern 1,531 #4,002
2013 modern 1,559 #4,006
2014 modern 1,556 #4,033
2015 modern 1,532 #4,058
2016 modern 1,524 #4,064

Geography

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Where Seeleys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, St Marylebone, St Mary Islington and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Suffolk, St Edmundsbury, Horsham and Suffolk Coastal. 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 London parishes London 3
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
4 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Suffolk 002 Mid Suffolk
2 St Edmundsbury 001 St Edmundsbury
3 Horsham 013 Horsham
4 St Edmundsbury 007 St Edmundsbury
5 Suffolk Coastal 013 Suffolk Coastal

Forenames

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First names often paired with Seeley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Seeley

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Seeley is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Seeley is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Seeley falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Seeley 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 Seeley, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Seeley

The surname Seeley is of English origin and is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sele," which means "a dwelling, hall, or cottage." It is thought to have emerged as a surname in the 12th or 13th century, initially given to someone who lived in a particular hall or cottage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, dated 1273, where it is listed as "Seley." The Hundredorum Rolls, also known as the Rotuli Hundredorum, were a series of inquisitions or surveys conducted in England between 1274 and 1275, providing valuable information about landholders and their holdings.

The surname Seeley is also believed to have originated from various place names throughout England, such as Selly in Worcestershire, Selly Park in Birmingham, and Selly Oak, also in Birmingham. These place names are thought to have derived from the same Old English word "sele."

In the 16th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, including Seely, Seeley, Seely, and Ceely. One notable individual from this period was John Seeley, born around 1550 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. He was a prominent Puritan minister and author.

Another notable figure was Sir John Seeley, born in 1594 in Great Baddow, Essex. He was a wealthy merchant and philanthropist who founded the prestigious Seeley Lectureship at Oxford University.

In the 17th century, the surname became more widely established, and several individuals with the name gained recognition. One such person was Richard Seeley, born in 1605 in Woodford, Essex. He was a renowned Puritan minister and author.

During the 18th century, the name continued to spread throughout England. One notable individual from this period was Sir Robert Seeley, born in 1742 in Leicestershire. He was a prominent military officer who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, the surname Seeley gained further prominence with individuals like Sir John Robert Seeley, born in 1834 in London. He was a renowned historian and professor at the University of Cambridge, known for his works on British history and the expansion of the British Empire.

Throughout its history, the surname Seeley has been associated with various professions, including clergy, merchants, military officers, academics, and authors. The name has endured and continues to be found in various parts of the English-speaking world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Seeley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Seeley 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 178 Seeleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.98x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 178 1.98x
Suffolk 126 11.51x
Warwickshire 85 3.75x
Norfolk 71 5.14x
Surrey 70 1.60x
Worcestershire 58 4.94x
Yorkshire 44 0.49x
Essex 36 2.03x
Lancashire 32 0.30x
Kent 30 0.98x
Staffordshire 25 0.82x
Hampshire 18 0.98x
Devon 16 0.86x
Sussex 16 1.06x
Cambridgeshire 15 2.64x
Lincolnshire 15 1.04x
Shropshire 11 1.42x
Denbighshire 10 2.95x
Northumberland 8 0.60x
Buckinghamshire 6 1.10x
Dorset 6 1.02x
Channel Islands 5 1.88x
Derbyshire 5 0.36x
Oxfordshire 5 0.90x
Wiltshire 5 0.63x
Gloucestershire 4 0.23x
Berkshire 3 0.44x
Durham 3 0.11x
Bedfordshire 2 0.43x
Glamorgan 2 0.13x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.17x
Somerset 2 0.14x
Westmorland 2 1.01x
Cardiganshire 1 0.46x
Herefordshire 1 0.27x
Hertfordshire 1 0.16x
Northamptonshire 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 0.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 38 Seeleys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.09x.

Place Total Index
Aston 38 6.09x
St Pancras London 33 4.56x
Islington London 24 2.76x
Hackney London 21 4.17x
Lowestoft 20 38.69x
Birmingham 18 2.38x
Clapham 17 15.14x
Kings Norton 17 16.16x
St Marylebone London 16 3.34x
Yardley 16 53.30x
Lutley 14 2500.00x
Coventry St Michael 13 17.86x
Shoreditch London 13 3.34x
West Ham 13 3.32x
Heigham 11 14.84x
Hillingdon 11 38.41x
Lambeth 11 1.40x
Norwich St Augustine 11 197.49x
Thetford St Cuthbert 11 220.44x
Frodingham 10 195.31x
Mile End Old Town 10 7.05x
Harborne 9 9.26x
Holdenhurst 9 18.63x
Llangollen Llangollen 9 233.16x
Tormoham 9 11.37x
Wardleworth 9 14.77x
Battersea 8 2.42x
Blundeston 8 363.64x
Bradfield 8 23.31x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 8 38.95x
Camberwell 8 1.39x
Clerkenwell London 8 3.77x
Eastbourne 8 11.48x
Ipswich St Mathew 8 26.08x
Alvechurch 7 140.28x
Bury St Edmunds St James 7 23.95x
Hinderclay 7 744.68x
Oswestry Rural 7 58.87x
Oulton 7 189.19x
Saddleworth 7 10.19x
Wandsworth 7 8.09x
Barking 6 11.56x
Battle 6 58.71x
Boxted 6 1071.43x
Cheriton 6 48.04x
Cramlington 6 33.98x
Dovercourt 6 96.15x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 3.31x
Edgbaston 6 8.54x
Gorleston 6 21.58x
Hampstead London 6 4.29x
Norton 6 262.01x
Norton In Moors 6 37.38x
Norwich St Clement 6 37.48x
Paddington London 6 1.82x
Portsea 6 1.66x
Sheffield 6 2.12x
Tipton 6 6.46x
Wendover 6 102.39x
York St Nicholas In 6 119.76x
Ashley Cum Silverley 5 335.57x
Barnsley 5 5.44x
Canterbury St Mildred 5 68.78x
Deptford St Paul 5 2.11x
Flitcham Cum Appleton 5 347.22x
Norwich St Peter 5 55.13x
Plymouth St Andrew 5 3.47x
St Clement Danes 5 34.39x
Alfreton 4 9.36x
Cavendish 4 113.31x
Cowbit 4 204.08x
Great Saxham 4 540.54x
Hartest 4 211.64x
Lawshall 4 162.60x
Linton 4 73.94x
Malmesbury St Paul 4 58.57x
Melcombe Regis 4 16.37x
Milton In Gravesend 4 8.70x
Rotherhithe 4 3.60x
Warwick St Nicholas 4 24.07x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 38
William 37
John 34
James 30
Thomas 25
Henry 24
Joseph 19
Charles 17
Alfred 16
Walter 16
Robert 14
Arthur 12
Edward 9
Harry 9
Samuel 9
Benjamin 8
Frederick 8
Richard 8
Albert 6
Herbert 6
Chas. 5
Francis 5
Frank 5
David 4
Elijah 4
Ernest 4
Fredrick 3
Joshua 3
Stephen 3
Thos. 3
Adolphus 2
Cornelius 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Geo. 2
Howard 2
Hugh 2
Isaac 2
Michael 2
Oliver 2
Reginald 2
Sampson 2
C. 1
Caleb 1
Captain 1
Fenton 1
Frederic 1
Jas. 1
Job 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Seeley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Seeley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 915 people were recorded with the Seeley surname. That placed it at #4,192 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Seeley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,524 in 2016. That gives Seeley a modern rank of #4,064.

What does the Seeley surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "sallow wood," referring to a copse of sallow (willow) trees.

What does the Seeley map show?

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