NameCensus.

UK surname

Seller

An English surname denoting someone who sold goods or merchandise.

In the 1881 census there were 456 people recorded with the Seller surname, ranking it #7,255 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 333, ranked #13,670, down from #7,255 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Arundel, Hull Holy Trinity and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Ryedale, Westminster and Arun.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Seller is 623 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 27.0%.

1881 census count

456

Ranked #7,255

Modern count

333

2016, ranked #13,670

Peak year

1861

623 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Seller had 456 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,255 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 333 in 2016, ranked #13,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 623 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Seller surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Seller surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Seller 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 549 #4,612
1861 historical 623 #4,292
1881 historical 456 #7,255
1891 historical 559 #6,792
1901 historical 546 #7,568
1911 historical 544 #7,356
1997 modern 404 #10,931
1998 modern 396 #11,435
1999 modern 388 #11,696
2000 modern 379 #11,855
2001 modern 349 #12,392
2002 modern 349 #12,652
2003 modern 347 #12,479
2004 modern 359 #12,222
2005 modern 345 #12,496
2006 modern 353 #12,363
2007 modern 361 #12,303
2008 modern 366 #12,285
2009 modern 369 #12,447
2010 modern 364 #12,851
2011 modern 358 #12,883
2012 modern 358 #12,724
2013 modern 355 #13,045
2014 modern 351 #13,227
2015 modern 343 #13,365
2016 modern 333 #13,670

Geography

Back to top

Where Sellers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Arundel, Hull Holy Trinity, London parishes, Hunmanby and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Ryedale, Westminster, Arun, Epping Forest and South Bucks. 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 Arundel Sussex
2 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Hunmanby Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Ryedale 001 Ryedale
2 Westminster 008 Westminster
3 Arun 001 Arun
4 Epping Forest 016 Epping Forest
5 South Bucks 006 South Bucks

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Seller

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Seller

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Seller is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Seller 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

Seller falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Seller

The surname Seller has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is an occupational surname, derived from the Old English word "sellan," meaning "to sell" or "to trade." This suggests that the earliest bearers of this name were likely engaged in mercantile activities or worked as merchants or traders.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which lists a William le Seller in Oxfordshire. The prefix "le" was commonly used in medieval times to denote an occupation or a distinguishing characteristic.

The Seller surname appears to have been particularly prevalent in the counties of Somerset, Dorset, and Wiltshire in the southwest of England. This region was known for its thriving wool trade and cloth production during the Middle Ages, which may have contributed to the name's prevalence among merchants and traders in the area.

In the 14th century, the name is recorded in various spellings, such as Sellere, Sellare, and Seler, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that era.

Notable individuals with the surname Seller include John Seller (c. 1632-1697), an English cartographer and writer who published several atlases and navigational works. His most famous work, "The English Pilot," was a comprehensive guide to navigation and sailing directions.

Another prominent figure was Abraham Seller (c. 1628-1705), a hydrographer and instrument maker who worked closely with his brother John. He produced numerous navigational charts and instruments, contributing significantly to the advancement of maritime cartography.

In the realm of literature, the name Seller is associated with Ebenezer Seller (1669-1736), an English writer and translator who is best known for his work "The History of Passive Obedience Since the Reformation."

The Seller surname also has a connection to the American Revolutionary War through John Seller (1728-1804), a British Army officer who fought against the American colonists.

Finally, it is worth mentioning John Seller (1732-1814), an English engraver and cartographer who produced several maps and atlases, including "The English Pilot" in 1808, continuing the legacy of his namesake and relative from the previous century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Seller families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Seller 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. Yorkshire leads with 134 Sellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.05x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 134 3.05x
Middlesex 59 1.33x
Lancashire 46 0.88x
Cheshire 30 3.07x
Surrey 29 1.34x
Dorset 25 8.60x
Berkshire 18 5.42x
Sussex 14 1.88x
Leicestershire 13 2.65x
Banffshire 12 13.06x
Somerset 10 1.40x
Devon 9 0.98x
Aberdeenshire 8 1.95x
Lincolnshire 8 1.13x
Kent 6 0.40x
Worcestershire 4 0.69x
Caithness 3 4.95x
Lanarkshire 3 0.21x
Oxfordshire 3 1.10x
Wiltshire 3 0.77x
Essex 2 0.23x
Hampshire 2 0.22x
Midlothian 2 0.34x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.36x
Durham 1 0.08x
Flintshire 1 0.84x
Gloucestershire 1 0.12x
Norfolk 1 0.15x
Northamptonshire 1 0.24x
Northumberland 1 0.15x
Rutland 1 3.08x
Staffordshire 1 0.07x
Sutherland 1 2.94x
Warwickshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hunmanby in Yorkshire leads with 20 Sellers recorded in 1881 and an index of 975.61x.

Place Total Index
Hunmanby 20 975.61x
Manningham 18 33.30x
Chester St John Baptist 13 73.99x
Pocklington 11 265.70x
Chester St Martin 10 645.16x
Lambeth 10 2.59x
Holy Trinity 9 8.53x
Leeds 9 3.63x
White Waltham 9 725.81x
Bermondsey 8 6.07x
Hammersmith London 8 7.33x
Hamworthy 8 792.08x
Leicester St Margaret 8 6.68x
Arundel 7 167.46x
Bedminster 7 10.45x
Hilderthorpe 7 315.32x
Louth 7 43.13x
Newton 7 17.28x
Pulborough 7 255.47x
York St Mary 7 38.50x
Ardwick 6 12.66x
Banff 6 75.19x
Bury 6 10.00x
Canford Magna 6 357.14x
Morden 6 487.80x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.60x
Bromley London 5 5.13x
Cleckheaton 5 30.92x
Cookham 5 48.26x
Horton In Bradford 5 7.30x
Hulme 5 4.56x
North Leigh 5 1351.35x
Norton In Malton 5 93.99x
Shoreditch London 5 2.60x
Staines 5 71.33x
Camberwell 4 1.41x
Cheetham 4 10.20x
Chester St Olave 4 454.55x
Hampstead London 4 5.80x
Hayton 4 1212.12x
Hinckley 4 34.33x
Islington London 4 0.93x
Liverpool 4 1.25x
Old Windsor 4 103.90x
Oldbury 4 14.06x
Paddington London 4 2.46x
St Fergus 4 172.41x
York St Giles In 4 96.62x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 3 3.91x
Beverley St Mary 3 46.80x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 3.59x
Everton 3 1.79x
Glasgow 3 1.18x
Hampton London 3 41.21x
Kirkby Moorside 3 107.53x
Langley Burrell 3 184.05x
Latheron 3 29.59x
Oxford St Martin 3 666.67x
Plumstead 3 5.96x
Scarborough 3 7.52x
St Marylebone London 3 1.27x
St Pancras London 3 0.84x
Tarporley 3 146.34x
West Derby 3 1.95x
Whorlton 3 288.46x
Willesden 3 7.19x
Wimbledon 3 12.38x
Aberdeen Old Machar 2 2.34x
Banstead 2 34.19x
Barnsley 2 4.42x
Battersea 2 1.23x
Fridaythorpe 2 408.16x
Gate Fulford 2 19.51x
Poole St James 2 18.32x
Sculcoates 2 2.87x
St Luke London 2 2.82x
Wapping London 2 59.17x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 2 34.84x
York St Lawrence 2 43.67x
Walton On Hill 1 3.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 27
Sarah 19
Elizabeth 16
Jane 11
Hannah 10
Ann 7
Annie 7
Emily 7
Emma 7
Alice 6
Eliza 6
Ellen 5
Martha 5
Edith 4
Kate 4
Margaret 4
Fanny 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Susan 3
Amelia 2
Betsy 2
Blanche 2
Charlotte 2
Frances 2
Lydia 2
Rosina 2
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Deborah 1
Ealenor 1
Eleanor 1
Elinor 1
Elizbeth 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Fanney 1
Gertrude 1
Harriett 1
Harriotte 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Izette 1
Jesse 1
Keziah 1
Laura 1
Lenora 1
Thomas 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 29
William 24
George 16
James 15
Charles 12
Robert 10
Thomas 10
Joseph 9
Henry 8
Arthur 5
Richard 5
Edward 3
Ernest 3
Frederick 3
Johnson 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Mark 2
Tom 2
Brigham 1
Christopher 1
David 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Herbert 1
Hubert 1
Jno.W. 1
Jonathan 1
Josh.A. 1
Lot 1
Michael 1
Milner 1
Percy 1
Reuben 1
Sage 1
Sam 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Smith 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Seller surname: questions and answers

How common was the Seller surname in 1881?

In 1881, 456 people were recorded with the Seller surname. That placed it at #7,255 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Seller surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 333 in 2016. That gives Seller a modern rank of #13,670.

What does the Seller surname mean?

An English surname denoting someone who sold goods or merchandise.

What does the Seller map show?

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