NameCensus.

UK surname

Selfridge

A surname derived from an old English term meaning "sheldrick" or "wildfowl catcher".

In the 1881 census there were 16 people recorded with the Selfridge surname, ranking it #31,301 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 265, ranked #16,130, up from #31,301 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greater Lochgilphead, Newark and Sherwood and Newbattle and Dalhousie.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Selfridge is 275 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1556.3%.

1881 census count

16

Ranked #31,301

Modern count

265

2016, ranked #16,130

Peak year

2014

275 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Selfridge had 16 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #31,301 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 265 in 2016, ranked #16,130.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 40 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Selfridge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Selfridge surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Selfridge 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 5 #33,418
1881 historical 16 #31,301
1891 historical 17 #32,787
1901 historical 40 #29,678
1911 historical 5 #33,427
1997 modern 215 #16,844
1998 modern 224 #16,888
1999 modern 229 #16,744
2000 modern 235 #16,423
2001 modern 229 #16,467
2002 modern 252 #15,714
2003 modern 237 #16,191
2004 modern 241 #16,086
2005 modern 238 #16,198
2006 modern 253 #15,602
2007 modern 249 #15,943
2008 modern 254 #15,903
2009 modern 261 #15,926
2010 modern 266 #16,067
2011 modern 260 #16,188
2012 modern 256 #16,253
2013 modern 264 #16,191
2014 modern 275 #15,831
2015 modern 274 #15,749
2016 modern 265 #16,130

Geography

Back to top

Where Selfridges 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 Greater Lochgilphead, Newark and Sherwood, Newbattle and Dalhousie, Muirton and Little Earnock. 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 Greater Lochgilphead Argyll and Bute
2 Newark and Sherwood 007 Newark and Sherwood
3 Newbattle and Dalhousie Midlothian
4 Muirton Perth and Kinross
5 Little Earnock South Lanarkshire

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Selfridge

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Selfridge

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Selfridge is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Selfridge 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

Selfridge falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Selfridge is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Selfridge

The surname "Selfridge" is of English origin, deriving from the Old English words "self" meaning "self" and "ridge" meaning a "long, narrow hill or ridge of land." The name likely emerged in the Middle Ages and was initially used to describe someone who lived near a prominent ridge or hill.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears to be "Selfrugge" in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1202. Other early spellings include "Selfrugg" in the Assize Court Rolls of Yorkshire in 1219 and "Selfridg" in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a landowner named "Silfrid" is mentioned, which could be an early variant of the "Selfridge" surname. This historical record suggests the name's presence in England during the Norman conquest.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John Selfridge, born around 1480 in Staffordshire, England. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local gentry.

Another notable figure was Sir Thomas Selfridge (1557-1624), a wealthy merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London. He was knighted by King James I in 1617 for his services to the Crown.

In the 17th century, the Selfridge family established themselves in the county of Warwickshire, where they owned substantial estates. One of their descendants, Richard Selfridge (1670-1738), was a prominent lawyer and served as a Member of Parliament for Warwickshire from 1708 to 1715.

During the American Revolutionary War, Captain John Selfridge (1738-1808) fought for the Continental Army and was present at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775. He later settled in Massachusetts and became a respected citizen.

In the 19th century, Harry Gordon Selfridge (1858-1947), an American-born retail magnate, founded the iconic Selfridges department store in London, which still bears his name. He revolutionized the shopping experience and is considered a pioneer in modern retail.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Selfridge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Selfridge 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. Lanarkshire leads with 16 Selfridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.71x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 16 31.71x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cambusnethan in Lanarkshire leads with 10 Selfridges recorded in 1881 and an index of 892.86x.

Place Total Index
Cambusnethan 10 892.86x
Hamilton 6 425.53x

FAQ

Selfridge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Selfridge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 16 people were recorded with the Selfridge surname. That placed it at #31,301 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Selfridge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 265 in 2016. That gives Selfridge a modern rank of #16,130.

What does the Selfridge surname mean?

A surname derived from an old English term meaning "sheldrick" or "wildfowl catcher".

What does the Selfridge map show?

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