NameCensus.

UK surname

Selwood

Originally denoted someone living by a wood of willow trees.

In the 1881 census there were 803 people recorded with the Selwood surname, ranking it #4,638 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,159, ranked #5,092, down from #4,638 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Oxfordshire, Swindon and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Selwood is 1,277 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.3%.

1881 census count

803

Ranked #4,638

Modern count

1,159

2016, ranked #5,092

Peak year

1999

1,277 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Selwood had 803 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,638 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,159 in 2016, ranked #5,092.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,075 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Selwood surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Selwood surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Selwood 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 494 #5,061
1861 historical 394 #6,504
1881 historical 803 #4,638
1891 historical 864 #4,747
1901 historical 1,012 #4,713
1911 historical 1,075 #4,314
1997 modern 1,221 #4,645
1998 modern 1,273 #4,658
1999 modern 1,277 #4,673
2000 modern 1,268 #4,679
2001 modern 1,237 #4,684
2002 modern 1,256 #4,716
2003 modern 1,223 #4,728
2004 modern 1,215 #4,763
2005 modern 1,173 #4,852
2006 modern 1,176 #4,859
2007 modern 1,182 #4,871
2008 modern 1,166 #4,952
2009 modern 1,192 #4,963
2010 modern 1,209 #5,009
2011 modern 1,203 #4,960
2012 modern 1,198 #4,923
2013 modern 1,239 #4,860
2014 modern 1,219 #4,950
2015 modern 1,173 #5,071
2016 modern 1,159 #5,092

Geography

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Where Selwoods are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes, Sheffield and Dorchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Oxfordshire, Swindon, Wiltshire and Bridgend. 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 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Dorchester Berkshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Oxfordshire 006 South Oxfordshire
2 Swindon 004 Swindon
3 Wiltshire 003 Wiltshire
4 Bridgend 004 Bridgend
5 South Oxfordshire 007 South Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Selwood

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Selwood

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Selwood is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Selwood is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Selwood

The surname SELWOOD has its origins in England, tracing back to the 11th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "sele," meaning a hall or dwelling, and "wudu," meaning a wood or forest. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or in a wooded area near a hall or dwelling.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Selewde." This entry refers to a place called Selwood in Somerset, which was likely the ancestral home of those bearing the surname.

During the Middle Ages, the name was often spelled in various ways, including Selwode, Sellwode, and Selwoud, reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations of the time.

In the 13th century, a notable figure named Richard de Selwood was recorded as a landowner in Somerset. Another early bearer of the name was John Selwood, who was mentioned in records from the city of Bristol in the 14th century.

As the centuries passed, the SELWOOD name spread beyond its Somerset origins. In the 16th century, a prominent individual named William Selwood (c. 1530-1592) was a merchant and alderman in the city of London.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a Royalist soldier named Captain John Selwood (c. 1620-1670) distinguished himself in several battles against the Parliamentarian forces.

In the 18th century, a notable literary figure named Sarah Selwood (1707-1794) gained recognition for her poetry and writings on religious themes.

As the industrial revolution unfolded in the 19th century, a businessman named Thomas Selwood (1812-1892) made his mark as a successful manufacturer of textile machinery in Yorkshire.

Throughout its history, the SELWOOD surname has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in the southwestern counties of Somerset, Wiltshire, and Dorset, where the name originated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Selwood families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Selwood 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. Wiltshire leads with 111 Selwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.96x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 111 15.96x
Middlesex 103 1.31x
Gloucestershire 83 5.38x
Berkshire 72 12.20x
Surrey 67 1.75x
Somerset 54 4.27x
Hampshire 52 3.23x
Yorkshire 51 0.65x
Oxfordshire 43 8.86x
Warwickshire 26 1.31x
Staffordshire 18 0.68x
Devon 17 1.04x
Worcestershire 14 1.36x
Cornwall 13 1.46x
Glamorgan 11 0.80x
Kent 11 0.41x
Essex 8 0.52x
Sussex 7 0.53x
Cheshire 6 0.35x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.57x
Brecknockshire 5 3.18x
Hertfordshire 5 0.92x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.55x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.84x
Lanarkshire 4 0.16x
Channel Islands 3 1.29x
Lancashire 3 0.03x
Monmouthshire 2 0.35x
Derbyshire 1 0.08x
Dorset 1 0.19x
Royal Navy 1 1.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Purton in Wiltshire leads with 31 Selwoods recorded in 1881 and an index of 500.81x.

Place Total Index
Purton 31 500.81x
Stratton St Margaret 26 243.67x
Bishops Waltham 20 298.06x
Hawkesbury 18 342.86x
Nether Hallam 17 16.13x
Bethnal Green London 16 4.68x
Swindon 16 29.67x
Aston 15 2.75x
Dorchester 15 549.45x
Cheltenham 14 11.77x
Hampstead London 14 11.43x
Battersea 13 4.49x
Caversham 13 133.88x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 12 8.27x
Kingweston 11 2750.00x
Wandsworth 11 14.53x
Wellington 11 64.10x
Clevedon 10 75.99x
Highworth 10 112.49x
Illogan 10 42.43x
Lambeth 10 1.46x
Southampton St Mary 10 9.87x
West Bromwich 10 6.58x
West Ilsley 10 990.10x
Bower Chalk 9 796.46x
Islington London 9 1.18x
West Buckland 9 370.37x
Alverstoke 8 13.72x
Brightside Bierlow 8 5.24x
Kingston On Thames 8 8.69x
Lechlade 8 253.16x
Sheffield 8 3.23x
Totnes 8 83.59x
Fairford 7 169.90x
Farnham 7 23.50x
Kings Norton 7 7.60x
Neath 7 25.13x
Richmond 7 13.04x
Shoreditch London 7 2.05x
Sonning 7 107.36x
Sunbury 7 74.15x
White Waltham 7 316.74x
Worcester St Martin 7 50.54x
Abingdon St Helen 6 34.78x
Camberwell 6 1.19x
Eastleach Turville 6 512.82x
Eaton In Chester 6 1666.67x
Ecclesall Bierlow 6 3.79x
Heeley 6 25.34x
Leyton 6 22.45x
Nottingham St Mary 6 2.19x
Tetbury 6 68.65x
Birmingham 5 0.76x
Bow London 5 5.00x
Clifton On Dunsmore 5 312.50x
Ealing 5 7.12x
Feltham 5 63.69x
Lewisham 5 3.50x
Llanspyddid 5 331.13x
Martock 5 60.75x
Oxford All Sts 5 480.77x
St Marylebone London 5 1.19x
Taunton St Mary 5 21.52x
Tettenhall 5 30.81x
Belhelvie 4 80.32x
Binsted 4 65.15x
Chelsea London 4 1.69x
Govan 4 0.64x
Hurst 4 51.81x
Letcombe Bassett 4 677.97x
Middle Claydon 4 655.74x
Paddington London 4 1.38x
Acton 3 6.51x
Exeter St Leonard 3 66.96x
Halifax 3 2.62x
Hammersmith London 3 1.55x
Kensington London 3 0.69x
Newington 3 13.98x
St Peter Port 3 6.96x
West Swallowfield 3 107.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 44
Mary 44
Sarah 43
Eliza 16
Alice 15
Ann 14
Florence 12
Emma 11
Ellen 10
Emily 10
Jane 10
Annie 9
Hannah 9
Maria 9
Martha 8
Fanny 7
Matilda 7
Ada 6
Caroline 6
Charlotte 6
Louisa 6
Rose 6
Agnes 5
Anne 5
Harriet 5
Harriett 4
Lucy 4
Maud 4
Susan 4
Kate 3
Anna 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Eliz.Annie 2
Esther 2
Grace 2
Julia 2
Laura 2
Margaret 2
Minnie 2
Rosa 2
Selina 2
Adeliza 1
Amy 1
Cadith 1
Catherine 1
Evellyn 1
Georgina 1
Lydia 1
Margret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 51
John 41
James 32
Charles 24
George 23
Henry 22
Thomas 21
Albert 11
Alfred 11
Walter 11
Joseph 10
Frederick 9
Richard 8
Robert 8
Samuel 8
Edwin 7
Harry 7
Edward 6
Arthur 5
Ernest 5
Herbert 5
Francis 4
Frank 4
Fredrick 4
Daniel 3
Fred 3
Mark 3
Gabriel 2
Isaac 2
Jesse 2
Mathew 2
Thos. 2
Willm. 2
Wm. 2
Charly 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Clifford 1
Dennis 1
Emily 1
Fred.Wm. 1
Fredeck 1
Gee 1
Jedeon 1
Jessie 1
Johua 1
Jonas 1
Josiah 1
Michael 1
Obed 1

FAQ

Selwood surname: questions and answers

How common was the Selwood surname in 1881?

In 1881, 803 people were recorded with the Selwood surname. That placed it at #4,638 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Selwood surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,159 in 2016. That gives Selwood a modern rank of #5,092.

What does the Selwood surname mean?

Originally denoted someone living by a wood of willow trees.

What does the Selwood map show?

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