NameCensus.

UK surname

Seifert

A German occupational surname referring to a soapmaker or producer of soap.

In the 1881 census there were 17 people recorded with the Seifert surname, ranking it #31,170 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 179, ranked #21,086, up from #31,170 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Sussex, West Oxfordshire and Sedgemoor.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Seifert is 190 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 952.9%.

1881 census count

17

Ranked #31,170

Modern count

179

2016, ranked #21,086

Peak year

2013

190 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Seifert had 17 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,170 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016, ranked #21,086.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 51 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Seifert surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Seifert surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Seifert 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
1861 historical 1 #34,435
1881 historical 17 #31,170
1891 historical 7 #33,665
1901 historical 29 #30,848
1911 historical 51 #27,708
1997 modern 142 #21,856
1998 modern 152 #21,481
1999 modern 151 #21,740
2000 modern 158 #21,055
2001 modern 149 #21,568
2002 modern 149 #22,001
2003 modern 158 #20,952
2004 modern 161 #20,840
2005 modern 164 #20,552
2006 modern 169 #20,294
2007 modern 170 #20,471
2008 modern 177 #20,169
2009 modern 184 #20,079
2010 modern 188 #20,235
2011 modern 179 #20,732
2012 modern 185 #20,223
2013 modern 190 #20,201
2014 modern 181 #21,033
2015 modern 184 #20,719
2016 modern 179 #21,086

Geography

Back to top

Where Seiferts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Sussex, West Oxfordshire, Sedgemoor, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Manchester. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Sussex 006 Mid Sussex
2 West Oxfordshire 002 West Oxfordshire
3 Sedgemoor 012 Sedgemoor
4 Newcastle-under-Lyme 015 Newcastle-under-Lyme
5 Manchester 001 Manchester

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Seifert

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Seifert

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Seifert surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Seifert 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Seifert 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

Seifert is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Seifert falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Seifert 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Seifert

The surname Seifert is of German origin, derived from the Old High German word "seifen," meaning "to soap" or "to lather." It was an occupational surname given to those who worked as soap makers or chandlers.

In its earliest forms, the name was spelled Seyfert or Seifert, and it first appeared in historical records in the late 12th century. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Heinricus Seifer, who was mentioned in the Codex Traditionum Corbeiensium, a medieval cartulary of the Corvey Abbey in Germany, around 1192.

The Seifert name was particularly prevalent in the regions of Saxony, Silesia, and Bohemia, where many soap-making guilds and workshops were established during the Middle Ages. It was also found in other parts of Germany, as well as in neighboring countries like Austria and Switzerland.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named Johannes Seifert was a prominent citizen and merchant in the city of Leipzig. He served as a member of the city council and was involved in the local trade of soap and other goods.

During the Renaissance period, the Seifert family produced several notable artists and scholars. Hans Seifert (1500-1573) was a German painter and engraver known for his religious works, while Johannes Seifert (1531-1598) was a humanist scholar and theologian who taught at the University of Leipzig.

In the 17th century, Johann Seifert (1603-1677) was a German composer and organist who worked in the court of the Elector of Saxony. His son, Johann Michael Seifert (1645-1697), followed in his footsteps and became a respected organist and composer as well.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the Seifert name continued to be associated with various professions and fields, including science, literature, and politics. Carl Theodor Seifert (1805-1869) was a German mathematician and physicist, while Johann Seifert (1800-1865) was a writer and philosopher who contributed to the development of German idealism.

Other notable individuals with the Seifert surname include Herbert Seifert (1907-1996), a German mathematician known for his contributions to topology, and Herbert Seifert (1924-2018), a German politician who served as a member of the Bundestag (the German parliament) for several decades.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Seifert families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Seifert 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 7 Seiferts recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.23x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 7 4.23x
Yorkshire 4 2.44x
Surrey 3 3.72x
Glamorgan 1 3.47x
Hertfordshire 1 8.76x
Kent 1 1.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St George In East in Middlesex leads with 6 Seiferts recorded in 1881 and an index of 530.97x.

Place Total Index
St George In East 6 530.97x
Sutton Stoneferry 4 851.06x
Clapham 3 144.93x
Cardiff St Mary 1 62.89x
Islington London 1 6.23x
Margate St John Baptist 1 97.09x
North Mimms 1 1428.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Caroline 2
Auguste 1
Christine 1
Fanny 1
Leah 1
Louise 1
Margarete 1
Rachel 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Abraham 1
Adolf 1
Carl 1
Fritz 1
Harris 1
S. 1

Top occupations

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 Seifert households.

FAQ

Seifert surname: questions and answers

How common was the Seifert surname in 1881?

In 1881, 17 people were recorded with the Seifert surname. That placed it at #31,170 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Seifert surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 179 in 2016. That gives Seifert a modern rank of #21,086.

What does the Seifert surname mean?

A German occupational surname referring to a soapmaker or producer of soap.

What does the Seifert map show?

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