NameCensus.

UK surname

Sellwood

A locational surname derived from a place in Kent, England.

In the 1881 census there were 485 people recorded with the Sellwood surname, ranking it #6,931 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 760, ranked #7,210, down from #6,931 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Farringdon, Great and Brightwell Baldwin. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sellwood is 904 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.7%.

1881 census count

485

Ranked #6,931

Modern count

760

2016, ranked #7,210

Peak year

1999

904 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sellwood had 485 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,931 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 760 in 2016, ranked #7,210.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 883 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sellwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sellwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sellwood 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 415 #5,850
1861 historical 467 #5,562
1881 historical 485 #6,931
1891 historical 599 #6,391
1901 historical 716 #6,171
1911 historical 883 #5,042
1997 modern 851 #6,233
1998 modern 903 #6,146
1999 modern 904 #6,182
2000 modern 894 #6,206
2001 modern 880 #6,175
2002 modern 864 #6,390
2003 modern 823 #6,497
2004 modern 815 #6,561
2005 modern 804 #6,593
2006 modern 783 #6,743
2007 modern 772 #6,895
2008 modern 769 #6,964
2009 modern 783 #7,001
2010 modern 792 #7,088
2011 modern 792 #7,009
2012 modern 778 #7,018
2013 modern 783 #7,091
2014 modern 780 #7,148
2015 modern 754 #7,276
2016 modern 760 #7,210

Geography

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Where Sellwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Farringdon, Great, Brightwell Baldwin 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 Oxfordshire, Vale of White Horse, Cornwall and Wiltshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Farringdon, Great Berkshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Brightwell Baldwin Oxfordshire
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Oxfordshire 001 South Oxfordshire
2 Vale of White Horse 016 Vale of White Horse
3 Cornwall 051 Cornwall
4 Wiltshire 053 Wiltshire
5 Cornwall 049 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sellwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sellwood

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Sellwood is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Sellwood 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

Sellwood falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Sellwood

The surname Sellwood has its origins in England, tracing back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "sellan" meaning "to sell" and "wudu" meaning "wood," suggesting the name was likely given to someone who lived near or worked in an area where wood was sold.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Salhwude." This entry refers to a place in Berkshire, England, which was later known as Sellwood.

During the Middle Ages, variations of the name such as Sellewode, Selwode, and Selwud were common in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Berkshire, Somerset, and Kent.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named John Sellwood was recorded as a landowner in the village of Sellwood near Bristol, Somerset. This village likely took its name from the family or vice versa.

Another early reference to the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a person named Willelmus de Sellewode is mentioned in connection with lands in Oxfordshire.

During the 16th century, the name appears in the records of St. Mary's Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. The Sellwood family was among the prominent residents of the town at that time.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the name was John Sellwood (1610-1671), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Stanford Dingley in Berkshire.

In the 19th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Sellwood was Jane Sellwood (1801-1888), an English novelist and poet who wrote under the pseudonym Mary Moss.

Another notable figure was Thomas Sellwood (1804-1889), a British engineer and industrialist who played a significant role in the development of the steam locomotive industry.

In the 20th century, the name gained further recognition through individuals such as Philippa Sellwood (1915-2001), a British artist and writer known for her children's books and illustrations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sellwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sellwood 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. Berkshire leads with 107 Sellwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 30.07x.

County Total Index
Berkshire 107 30.07x
Middlesex 85 1.79x
Hampshire 73 7.51x
Wiltshire 54 12.88x
Surrey 38 1.65x
Essex 23 2.46x
Oxfordshire 22 7.51x
Sussex 14 1.75x
Gloucestershire 13 1.40x
Buckinghamshire 7 2.44x
Carmarthenshire 7 3.50x
Kent 7 0.43x
Monmouthshire 6 1.75x
Dorset 5 1.61x
Glamorgan 5 0.61x
Cornwall 3 0.56x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.47x
Staffordshire 3 0.19x
Somerset 2 0.26x
Yorkshire 2 0.04x
Bedfordshire 1 0.41x
Derbyshire 1 0.13x
Devon 1 0.10x
Herefordshire 1 0.51x
Lancashire 1 0.02x
Northamptonshire 1 0.22x
Royal Navy 1 1.77x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brightwell Baldwin in Oxfordshire leads with 22 Sellwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 6111.11x.

Place Total Index
Brightwell Baldwin 22 6111.11x
Bradfield 18 957.45x
Christchurch 14 66.45x
Kensington London 14 5.31x
Lambeth 14 3.39x
Hound 13 196.97x
Charlton 12 975.61x
Bucklebury 11 594.59x
Great Faringdon 11 215.26x
Wootton Bassett 11 301.37x
Paddington London 9 5.16x
West Ham 9 4.36x
Cheltenham 8 11.15x
Greenham 8 449.44x
Islington London 8 1.74x
Portsea 8 4.20x
Shoreditch London 8 3.89x
South Stoneham 8 37.95x
Bedhampton 7 608.70x
Buckland 7 598.29x
Pembrey 7 76.17x
Aberystruth 6 19.86x
Battersea 6 3.44x
Edmonton 6 15.71x
Heston 6 38.12x
Reading St Giles 6 17.19x
Whitchurch 6 410.96x
Bermondsey 5 3.54x
Bisham 5 438.60x
Bow London 5 8.29x
Brentwood 5 87.57x
Brighton 5 3.10x
Brinkworth 5 264.55x
Buscot 5 833.33x
Friern Barnet 5 47.89x
Great Wishford 5 862.07x
Liddiard Millicent 5 347.22x
Newbury 5 43.86x
Pentridge 5 1315.79x
Ramsbury 5 131.58x
Roath 5 13.34x
Southampton All Sts 5 29.99x
Speen 5 85.91x
Thatcham 5 91.24x
West Wycombe 5 128.53x
Aldershot 4 12.29x
Broad Chalk 4 336.13x
Danbury 4 251.57x
Hastings Holy Trinity 4 67.91x
Margate St John Baptist 4 13.50x
Oxted 4 143.88x
Pangbourn 4 333.33x
South Cerney 4 261.44x
Teddington London 4 37.24x
Ufton Nervet 4 784.31x
Yateley 4 217.39x
Alverstoke 3 8.53x
Hampstead London 3 4.06x
Holdenhurst 3 11.77x
Leyton 3 18.61x
Newark Upon Trent 3 13.06x
Portslade 3 61.35x
Reading St Mary 3 10.53x
Sithney 3 55.35x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 3.14x
St Pancras London 3 0.79x
Wednesbury 3 7.50x
Westminster St 3 17.16x
Balking 2 740.74x
Bethnal Green London 2 0.97x
Edington 2 132.45x
Lewisham 2 2.32x
Middle Claydon 2 540.54x
Nether Hallam 2 3.15x
Romford 2 13.52x
Salisbury St Edmund 2 29.72x
Shere 2 71.68x
Swindon 2 6.15x
Wallingford St Leonard 2 120.48x
Windlesham 2 46.08x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 21
Sarah 19
Eliza 10
Ellen 9
Annie 8
Emma 8
Harriet 8
Jane 8
Alice 7
Ann 7
Caroline 7
Martha 7
Clara 6
Louisa 6
Anne 4
Edith 4
Ada 3
Charlotte 3
Emily 3
Harriett 3
Rose 3
Susan 3
Agnes 2
Amy 2
Anna 2
Eleanor 2
Fanny 2
Hannah 2
Kate 2
Margaret 2
Rebecca 2
Rhoda 2
Angelina 1
Blanche 1
E.H. 1
Elisa 1
Elisabeth 1
Elyra 1
Emley 1
Europa 1
Grace 1
Henrietta 1
Jemima 1
Julia 1
Laura 1
Lilley 1
Lizzie 1
Marie 1
William 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 42
John 24
George 23
Henry 21
James 17
Charles 13
Joseph 11
Frederick 10
Thomas 8
Alfred 6
Edward 6
Albert 5
Arthur 4
Isaac 4
Richard 4
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Robert 3
Stephen 3
Walter 3
Maurice 2
Phillip 2
Alick 1
Arther 1
Benjamin 1
Caleb 1
David 1
Edd. 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Francis 1
Fread 1
Hathrel 1
Herbert 1
Irwin 1
Isaach 1
Jesse 1
Mark 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Tom 1
Wiliam 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Sellwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sellwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 485 people were recorded with the Sellwood surname. That placed it at #6,931 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sellwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 760 in 2016. That gives Sellwood a modern rank of #7,210.

What does the Sellwood surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in Kent, England.

What does the Sellwood map show?

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