NameCensus.

UK surname

Sellens

A surname likely derived from the Old French word "selle", meaning a saddle or saddle maker.

In the 1881 census there were 107 people recorded with the Sellens surname, ranking it #18,982 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 254, ranked #16,632, up from #18,982 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sedlescomb, Crowhurst and Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hastings and Gwynedd.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sellens is 263 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 137.4%.

1881 census count

107

Ranked #18,982

Modern count

254

2016, ranked #16,632

Peak year

2014

263 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sellens had 107 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,982 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 254 in 2016, ranked #16,632.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 232 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Sellens surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sellens surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sellens 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 53 #23,739
1861 historical 98 #21,388
1881 historical 107 #18,982
1891 historical 148 #18,506
1901 historical 225 #14,047
1911 historical 232 #13,592
1997 modern 244 #15,520
1998 modern 256 #15,436
1999 modern 244 #16,052
2000 modern 248 #15,827
2001 modern 245 #15,721
2002 modern 258 #15,485
2003 modern 249 #15,653
2004 modern 260 #15,309
2005 modern 252 #15,551
2006 modern 244 #16,011
2007 modern 238 #16,505
2008 modern 245 #16,295
2009 modern 258 #16,050
2010 modern 250 #16,791
2011 modern 251 #16,589
2012 modern 259 #16,126
2013 modern 260 #16,350
2014 modern 263 #16,334
2015 modern 260 #16,361
2016 modern 254 #16,632

Geography

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Where Sellens' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sedlescomb, Crowhurst, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Tunbridge, Bidborough and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hastings and Gwynedd. 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 Sedlescomb Sussex
2 Crowhurst Sussex
3 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
4 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hastings 004 Hastings
2 Hastings 005 Hastings
3 Gwynedd 008 Gwynedd
4 Hastings 007 Hastings
5 Hastings 011 Hastings

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sellens

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sellens

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

Baseline UK

Group

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

Nationally, the Sellens surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Sellens household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sellens 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

Sellens is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sellens falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sellens is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sellens

The surname SELLENS is believed to have originated in England, with records of the name dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "sele" or "sael," meaning a hall or dwelling, and the suffix "-ing," indicating a family or group of people. Thus, the name SELLENS likely referred to people who lived in or were associated with a particular hall or residence.

The earliest known record of the SELLENS name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from the year 1202, where a Walter Sellens is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in that region by the early 13th century. Over time, the spelling of the name evolved, with variations such as Sellins, Sellings, and Sellyns appearing in historical documents.

In the 14th century, a John Sellens is recorded as being a prominent landowner in the county of Yorkshire. This indicates that the SELLENS family had achieved a certain level of status and wealth during that period. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 mention a Robert Sellens, suggesting the name's presence in different parts of England.

One notable figure with the surname SELLENS was William Sellens, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of London during the 16th century. He was born around 1520 and played an active role in the governance of the city, serving as a member of the Court of Aldermen and contributing to the development of London's trade and commerce.

Another individual of note was John Sellens, a scholar and clergyman who lived in the 17th century. Born in 1620 in Oxfordshire, he attended Oxford University and later became a respected theologian and author, publishing several works on religious subjects.

In the 18th century, the SELLENS name is associated with the village of Sellens, located in the county of Bedfordshire. It is possible that this place name derived from the surname, or vice versa, reflecting the presence of SELLENS families in the area.

Thomas Sellens, born in 1745 in Wiltshire, was a notable figure in the British military during the late 18th century. He served as a captain in the Royal Navy and participated in several naval engagements during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars.

Throughout history, the SELLENS surname has been present in various regions of England, with individuals bearing this name contributing to different fields, including commerce, religion, and military service. While the exact origin and meaning of the name may have evolved over time, it remains a distinctive part of English surname history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sellens families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sellens 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. Sussex leads with 52 Sellens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.56x.

County Total Index
Sussex 52 29.56x
Kent 43 12.08x
Hampshire 6 2.81x
Essex 4 1.94x
Middlesex 1 0.10x
Surrey 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westfield in Sussex leads with 10 Sellens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2631.58x.

Place Total Index
Westfield 10 2631.58x
Goudhurst 9 909.09x
Hawkhurst 8 720.72x
Wadhurst 8 689.66x
Brenenden 7 1521.74x
Dallington 6 3157.89x
Southampton St Michael 6 857.14x
Hastings St Andrew 5 793.65x
Sedlescombe 5 2173.91x
Aylesford 4 404.04x
Walthamstow 4 53.98x
Hastings St Mary In The 3 80.00x
Kennington 3 1153.85x
Mountfield 3 1363.64x
Whatlington 3 2142.86x
Willesborough 3 312.50x
Wrotham 3 254.24x
Brenchley 2 157.48x
Hastings Holy Trinity 2 153.85x
Salehurst 2 263.16x
Seal 2 350.88x
Udimore 2 1250.00x
Wivelsfield 2 289.86x
Battle 1 84.03x
Beckenham 1 21.51x
Chelsea London 1 3.18x
Farnham 1 25.32x
Tonbridge 1 7.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Jane 6
Emily 4
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Fanny 3
Elizabeth 2
Harriet 2
Rose 2
Sarah 2
Adelade 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Clara 1
Eleanor 1
Emma 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Harriett 1
Julia 1
Louisa 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Maryann 1
Matilda 1
Phila 1
Phily 1
Rachel 1
Sophia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Sellens surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sellens surname in 1881?

In 1881, 107 people were recorded with the Sellens surname. That placed it at #18,982 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sellens surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 254 in 2016. That gives Sellens a modern rank of #16,632.

What does the Sellens surname mean?

A surname likely derived from the Old French word "selle", meaning a saddle or saddle maker.

What does the Sellens map show?

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