NameCensus.

UK surname

Sellen

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "the hall dweller".

In the 1881 census there were 270 people recorded with the Sellen surname, ranking it #10,484 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 336, ranked #13,583, down from #10,484 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Minster, Newnham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Weymouth and Portland, Swale and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sellen is 449 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 24.4%.

1881 census count

270

Ranked #10,484

Modern count

336

2016, ranked #13,583

Peak year

1911

449 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sellen had 270 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,484 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 336 in 2016, ranked #13,583.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 449 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Sellen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sellen surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sellen 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 136 #13,892
1861 historical 143 #15,906
1881 historical 270 #10,484
1891 historical 297 #11,192
1901 historical 367 #10,076
1911 historical 449 #8,519
1997 modern 331 #12,668
1998 modern 352 #12,489
1999 modern 358 #12,416
2000 modern 364 #12,223
2001 modern 359 #12,153
2002 modern 367 #12,198
2003 modern 356 #12,258
2004 modern 357 #12,272
2005 modern 346 #12,464
2006 modern 336 #12,842
2007 modern 336 #12,975
2008 modern 335 #13,115
2009 modern 337 #13,318
2010 modern 339 #13,523
2011 modern 335 #13,528
2012 modern 329 #13,593
2013 modern 331 #13,748
2014 modern 338 #13,624
2015 modern 337 #13,560
2016 modern 336 #13,583

Geography

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Where Sellens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Minster, Newnham, London parishes, Sittingbourne and Milton next Sittingbourne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Weymouth and Portland, Swale, Pembrokeshire, Tunbridge Wells and Gosport. 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 Minster Kent
2 Newnham Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Sittingbourne Kent
5 Milton next Sittingbourne Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Weymouth and Portland 008 Weymouth and Portland
2 Swale 004 Swale
3 Pembrokeshire 004 Pembrokeshire
4 Tunbridge Wells 014 Tunbridge Wells
5 Gosport 001 Gosport

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sellen

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sellen

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Sellen is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Sellen is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sellen 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 Sellen 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 Sellen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sellen

The surname Sellen is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be a locational name, derived from a place name that has now been lost or corrupted over time.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, compiled in 1273, which mentions a person named Reginald de Selen. This suggests that the name may have initially been spelled with a single 'l' and an 'e' at the end.

In the 14th century, records show a John Sellen residing in Oxfordshire, indicating that the name had already spread to different parts of England by that time. The Sellen family was also present in Berkshire during this period, as evidenced by a William Sellen mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1334.

The name may be connected to the Old English word 'sele,' meaning a hall or dwelling, implying that the earliest bearers of the name may have resided in a notable building or settlement. However, the precise origin and meaning of the name remain somewhat obscure.

One notable figure in history bearing the name Sellen was Sir John Sellen, who served as a member of Parliament for Wiltshire in the late 16th century, from 1589 to 1604. Records indicate that he was born around 1540 and died in 1612.

Another individual of note was Thomas Sellen, a prominent merchant and landowner who lived in Gloucestershire during the 17th century. Born in 1625, he was involved in various business ventures and acquired significant wealth and property holdings before his death in 1698.

In the 18th century, the Sellen family had established roots in Yorkshire, where a William Sellen, born in 1732, became a respected figure in the local community and served as a magistrate.

Moving into the 19th century, one notable bearer of the name was Mary Sellen, a renowned author and poet who was born in Oxfordshire in 1810. Her works, which often explored themes of nature and spirituality, garnered critical acclaim during her lifetime. She passed away in 1885.

Lastly, in the early 20th century, Sir Arthur Sellen, born in 1872, was a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from Lancashire. He played a significant role in the development of the textile industry in the region and was recognized for his charitable contributions, particularly in the field of education.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sellen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sellen 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. Kent leads with 202 Sellens recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.56x.

County Total Index
Kent 202 22.56x
Middlesex 26 0.99x
Lancashire 13 0.42x
Sussex 13 2.94x
Devon 4 0.73x
Hampshire 4 0.74x
Surrey 4 0.31x
Durham 1 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 3.20x
Warwickshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sittingbourne in Kent leads with 35 Sellens recorded in 1881 and an index of 495.05x.

Place Total Index
Sittingbourne 35 495.05x
Chatham 16 64.96x
Deptford St Paul 15 21.72x
Newnham 14 5000.00x
Shoreditch London 14 12.31x
Minster In Sheppey 12 80.92x
Rodmersham 11 2894.74x
Bury 10 28.11x
Boxley 9 652.17x
Doddington 9 1730.77x
Harrietsham 9 1475.41x
Hollingbourn 9 873.79x
Rye 8 190.48x
Tonbridge 8 24.78x
Bethnal Green London 6 5.26x
Faversham 5 58.55x
Hastings St Mary In The 5 52.97x
Iwade 5 2380.95x
Chiswick 4 27.89x
Lee 4 30.77x
Littleham 4 100.25x
Tunstall 4 1666.67x
Tunworth 4 4000.00x
Lynsted 3 258.62x
Milton In Milton 3 78.74x
Rochester St Nicholas 3 107.53x
Stockbury 3 535.71x
Teynham 3 186.34x
Tonge 3 1071.43x
Tonge With Haulgh 3 49.51x
Islington London 2 0.79x
Lambeth 2 0.87x
Lewisham 2 4.19x
Sutton Valence 2 196.08x
Biddenden 1 81.30x
Caterham 1 17.70x
Chilvers Coton 1 36.76x
Deal 1 13.09x
Frindsbury 1 29.67x
Leeds 1 153.85x
Loose 1 76.34x
Maidstone 1 3.75x
Milton In Gravesend 1 7.45x
Newington 1 1.03x
Northfleet 1 12.67x
Queenborough 1 112.36x
Ramsgate 1 6.84x
Rochester St Margaret 1 10.59x
Royal Navy 1 3.74x
Stone In Dartford 1 43.48x
Sutton At Hone 1 53.76x
Ulcombe 1 169.49x
Westoe 1 2.26x
Wouldham 1 87.72x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 17
Elizabeth 12
Sarah 10
Eliza 9
Ann 6
Emma 5
Jane 4
Sophia 4
Clara 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Laura 3
Matilda 3
Rose 3
Alice 2
Caroline 2
Eleanor 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Flora 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Margaret 2
Martha 2
Phoebe 2
Ada 1
Allice 1
Amie 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Charlotte 1
Eva.M. 1
Harriett 1
Henriata 1
Janey 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Katie 1
Lilian 1
Lizzie 1
Mabel 1
Marian 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Rosina 1
Sophie 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 23
Charles 11
George 11
James 11
Edward 10
Thomas 10
John 7
Albert 6
Henry 5
Alfred 4
Jesse 3
Daniel 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Jno. 2
Robert 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Arthur 1
B. 1
Bruce 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Elizah 1
Ernest 1
Frank 1
Harold 1
Hubert 1
Joseph 1
Marmaduke 1
Percy 1
Reuben 1
Sydney 1
Willm. 1
Wilm. 1

FAQ

Sellen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sellen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 270 people were recorded with the Sellen surname. That placed it at #10,484 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sellen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 336 in 2016. That gives Sellen a modern rank of #13,583.

What does the Sellen surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name meaning "the hall dweller".

What does the Sellen map show?

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