NameCensus.

UK surname

Selwyn

An English surname derived from the Old English words "sele" (hall) and "wyn" (friend or protector).

In the 1881 census there were 263 people recorded with the Selwyn surname, ranking it #10,692 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 529, ranked #9,589, up from #10,692 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Oxenhall, Pauntley, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and Newent. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Gloucester and Newham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Selwyn is 591 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 101.1%.

1881 census count

263

Ranked #10,692

Modern count

529

2016, ranked #9,589

Peak year

1998

591 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Selwyn had 263 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,692 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 529 in 2016, ranked #9,589.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 371 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Selwyn surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Selwyn surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Selwyn 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 108 #16,308
1861 historical 92 #22,112
1881 historical 263 #10,692
1891 historical 324 #10,453
1901 historical 371 #9,997
1911 historical 359 #10,084
1997 modern 567 #8,475
1998 modern 591 #8,481
1999 modern 586 #8,580
2000 modern 588 #8,524
2001 modern 564 #8,645
2002 modern 554 #8,933
2003 modern 540 #8,967
2004 modern 560 #8,754
2005 modern 544 #8,859
2006 modern 534 #9,026
2007 modern 532 #9,122
2008 modern 536 #9,139
2009 modern 546 #9,230
2010 modern 576 #9,036
2011 modern 569 #9,030
2012 modern 556 #9,092
2013 modern 554 #9,279
2014 modern 546 #9,446
2015 modern 542 #9,436
2016 modern 529 #9,589

Geography

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Where Selwyns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Oxenhall, Pauntley, Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Newent, East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H and Minsterworth, Elmore. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Gloucester, Newham and Hertsmere. 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 Oxenhall, Pauntley Gloucestershire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 Newent Gloucestershire
4 East Dean, Little Dean, Flaxley, Abinghall, Weston-under-Penyard (Ross, Herefordshire), Lea (Ross, H Gloucestershire
5 Minsterworth, Elmore Gloucestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 002 Forest of Dean
2 Forest of Dean 001 Forest of Dean
3 Gloucester 015 Gloucester
4 Newham 034 Newham
5 Hertsmere 005 Hertsmere

Forenames

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First names often paired with Selwyn

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Selwyn

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Selwyn surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Selwyn household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Selwyn 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

Selwyn is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Selwyn

The surname Selwyn is of Welsh origin, derived from the personal name Selwyn, itself derived from the Welsh words "sêl" meaning "basis, foundation" and "gwyn" meaning "white, fair". The name was popularized in medieval Wales, and was often used to refer to someone with light-colored hair or a fair complexion.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Selwyn can be traced back to the 13th century in the county of Denbighshire, Wales. The name appears in various historical documents, such as the Taxatio Ecclesiastica of 1291, which lists a "Iohannes Selwyn" as a landowner in the area.

In the 14th century, the Selwyn family gained prominence in the Welsh Marches, the borderlands between England and Wales. The name is found in the Domesday Book, which records a "Selwyn de Malpas" as a landowner in the village of Malpas, Cheshire.

One notable figure in the family's history was Sir John Selwyn (c. 1460-1538), a Welsh politician and landowner who served as Sheriff of Denbighshire and Flintshire. He held extensive estates in Wales and was a member of the Privy Council under King Henry VIII.

In the 16th century, the Selwyn family established themselves in Gloucestershire, England. William Selwyn (1520-1589), a wealthy merchant and landowner, was a prominent member of the family during this period. His grandson, also named William Selwyn (1580-1636), was a Member of Parliament for Gloucester and played a role in the English Civil War.

Another notable figure was George Augustus Selwyn (1719-1791), a British colonial administrator who served as the first Governor of New Zealand from 1841 to 1853. He played a crucial role in the early colonization and development of the country, and the city of Selwyn in New Zealand's Canterbury region is named after him.

Throughout history, the surname Selwyn has been associated with various places, including the village of Selwyn in Herefordshire, England, and the town of Selwyn in the Canterbury region of New Zealand. The name has also been recorded with various spellings, such as Selwin, Selwyne, and Selwin.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Selwyn families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Selwyn 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. Gloucestershire leads with 135 Selwyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.04x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 135 27.04x
Middlesex 18 0.71x
Herefordshire 16 15.33x
Norfolk 13 3.32x
Somerset 13 3.17x
Surrey 13 1.05x
Worcestershire 11 3.31x
Warwickshire 7 1.09x
Buckinghamshire 5 3.25x
Shropshire 5 2.27x
Devon 4 0.75x
Glamorgan 4 0.90x
Kent 4 0.46x
Monmouthshire 3 1.63x
Cambridgeshire 2 1.24x
Lancashire 2 0.07x
Yorkshire 2 0.08x
Hampshire 1 0.19x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.98x
Staffordshire 1 0.12x
Suffolk 1 0.32x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Westbury On Severn in Gloucestershire leads with 37 Selwyns recorded in 1881 and an index of 1868.69x.

Place Total Index
Westbury On Severn 37 1868.69x
Westbury On Severn East 16 141.72x
Painswick 12 339.94x
Mordiford 9 1800.00x
Pauntley 9 4736.84x
Ashleworth 8 1818.18x
Bromsberrow 8 3478.26x
Eaton St Andrew 8 733.95x
Newent 8 314.96x
Westbury On Trym 8 47.28x
Bridstow 7 1186.44x
Taunton St Mary 7 93.09x
Bisley 6 132.74x
Earls Croome 6 3157.89x
Longhope 6 705.88x
Reigate Borough 6 209.79x
Bulley 5 3846.15x
Coventry Holy Trinity 5 26.08x
Wincanton 5 236.97x
Aberdare 4 13.14x
North Walsham 4 141.84x
Tormoham 4 17.84x
Wycombe 4 34.87x
Albrighton 3 283.02x
Chelsea London 3 3.91x
Churcham 3 681.82x
Dixton Hadnock 3 638.30x
Islington London 3 1.22x
Lambeth 3 1.35x
Little Dean 3 416.67x
Paddington London 3 3.20x
Pluckley 3 375.00x
Ashford 2 99.50x
Battersea 2 2.13x
Birmingham 2 0.93x
Bromfield 2 408.16x
Minsterworth 2 555.56x
Richmond 2 11.51x
Westminster St 2 21.30x
Worsley 2 10.74x
Bradford 1 1.64x
Castlemorton 1 153.85x
Cheltenham 1 2.60x
Christchurch 1 8.83x
Eton 1 28.65x
Fulham London 1 2.71x
Greenwich 1 2.47x
Hampstead London 1 2.52x
Hemingford Abbots 1 294.12x
Hornsey 1 3.11x
Kidderminster Borough 1 5.14x
Narford 1 833.33x
Overbury 1 172.41x
Poplar London 1 2.08x
Quedgley 1 238.10x
Redmarley 1 114.94x
Ripple 1 158.73x
Skipton 1 12.59x
South Hamlet 1 32.36x
St Bartholomew Less 1 76.34x
St Edward Cambridge 1 196.08x
St Marythe Less 1 102.04x
Stroud 1 10.29x
Sudbury St Gregory 1 40.16x
Wells St Cuthbert Out 1 30.30x
Yarlett 1 1000.00x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
George 9
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Charles 5
Joseph 5
Thomas 5
Samuel 4
Daniel 3
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Herbert 3
James 3
John 3
Chas. 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Lemuel 2
Sydney 2
Walter 2
... 1
Albert 1
Authur 1
Benjaman 1
Congreve 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Fred 1
Frederk. 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
Isaac 1
Jasper 1
Jesse 1
Oliver 1
Percy 1
Reginald 1
Selwyn 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Selwyn surname: questions and answers

How common was the Selwyn surname in 1881?

In 1881, 263 people were recorded with the Selwyn surname. That placed it at #10,692 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Selwyn surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 529 in 2016. That gives Selwyn a modern rank of #9,589.

What does the Selwyn surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English words "sele" (hall) and "wyn" (friend or protector).

What does the Selwyn map show?

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