NameCensus.

UK surname

Selleck

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "ploughland in a nook or corner".

In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Selleck surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 133, ranked #25,765, down from #23,670 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bovey Tracey, Hennock, London parishes and Meavy. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Cornwall and Milton Keynes.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Selleck is 148 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 90.0%.

1881 census count

70

Ranked #23,670

Modern count

133

2016, ranked #25,765

Peak year

1911

148 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Selleck had 70 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #23,670 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016, ranked #25,765.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 148 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Selleck surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Selleck surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Selleck 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 64 #21,914
1861 historical 75 #24,238
1881 historical 70 #23,670
1891 historical 62 #28,991
1901 historical 94 #23,588
1911 historical 148 #18,023
1997 modern 118 #24,423
1998 modern 124 #24,316
1999 modern 122 #24,745
2000 modern 119 #25,072
2001 modern 114 #25,344
2002 modern 122 #24,874
2003 modern 121 #24,776
2004 modern 127 #24,224
2005 modern 117 #25,433
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 122 #25,353
2008 modern 127 #25,020
2009 modern 125 #25,823
2010 modern 130 #25,775
2011 modern 122 #26,647
2012 modern 129 #25,705
2013 modern 132 #25,789
2014 modern 133 #25,851
2015 modern 135 #25,481
2016 modern 133 #25,765

Geography

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Where Sellecks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bovey Tracey, Hennock, London parishes, Meavy and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Cornwall and Milton Keynes. 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 Bovey Tracey, Hennock Devon
2 London parishes London 1
3 Meavy Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 006 South Hams
2 Cornwall 006 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 013 Cornwall
4 Milton Keynes 014 Milton Keynes
5 South Hams 005 South Hams

Forenames

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First names often paired with Selleck

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Selleck

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Selleck, 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 Selleck surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Selleck 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, Selleck 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

Selleck is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Selleck falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Selleck

The surname Selleck originated in England, with its earliest roots traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "sael" (hall) and "wic" (dwelling), suggesting it may have initially referred to someone who lived in a hall or manor house.

One of the earliest known references to the name Selleck can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Salewic" in Suffolk. This suggests the name was already in use in England by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the surname began appearing in various spellings, such as Sellock, Sellok, and Selloke, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. Some records from this period indicate the name may have been associated with certain locations, such as Sellack in Herefordshire or Selworthy in Somerset.

In the 14th century, the name Selleck gained prominence with the birth of John Selleck (c. 1330-1400), a prominent landowner and knight who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. His descendants continued to hold significant estates in various parts of England over the following centuries.

Another notable figure was Sir William Selleck (1590-1657), a member of the English gentry and a staunch Royalist during the English Civil War. He was knighted by King Charles I in 1641 for his loyal service.

In the 18th century, the Reverend Nathaniel Selleck (1714-1785) was a respected clergyman and author, known for his religious writings and sermons published during his lifetime.

The 19th century saw the birth of James Selleck (1827-1899), a prominent businessman and entrepreneur who made his fortune in the textile industry in Lancashire, England.

Across the Atlantic, the name also has a history in the United States, with records showing Sellecks settling in New England as early as the 17th century. One of the earliest known was David Selleck (1648-1717), a farmer and landowner in Stamford, Connecticut.

Throughout its long history, the surname Selleck has maintained a strong presence in various parts of the English-speaking world, with notable individuals continuing to carry on the legacy of this ancient name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Selleck families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Selleck 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. Devon leads with 49 Sellecks recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.48x.

County Total Index
Devon 49 34.48x
Middlesex 10 1.46x
Kent 6 2.58x
Gloucestershire 4 2.99x
Somerset 1 0.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shaugh Prior in Devon leads with 21 Sellecks recorded in 1881 and an index of 13125.00x.

Place Total Index
Shaugh Prior 21 13125.00x
Colaton Raleigh 8 4444.44x
Swanscombe 6 571.43x
Kensington London 5 13.17x
Sidmouth 5 617.28x
Woodbury 5 1190.48x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 89.69x
Plympton St Mary 4 487.80x
Cornwood 3 1111.11x
Shoreditch London 3 10.14x
Cullompton 2 322.58x
Bow London 1 11.51x
Ealing 1 16.39x
Holy Trinity 1 333.33x
Weston Super Mare 1 36.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 4
Elizabeth 3
Sarah 3
Annie 2
Ellen 2
Frances 2
Henrietta 2
Allice 1
Blanch 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Evelina 1
Maria 1
Maud 1
May 1
Rosianna 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 6
George 4
James 4
Francis 3
Charles 2
Christopher 2
Edwin 2
William 2
Albert 1
Christoler 1
Ellis 1
Frank 1
Hedley 1
Joseph 1
Massie 1
Rich.Godfrey 1
Richd.Godfrey 1
Robert 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Thomas 1
Walter 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 Selleck households.

FAQ

Selleck surname: questions and answers

How common was the Selleck surname in 1881?

In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Selleck surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Selleck surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 133 in 2016. That gives Selleck a modern rank of #25,765.

What does the Selleck surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "ploughland in a nook or corner".

What does the Selleck map show?

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