UK surname
A surname derived from the occupation of gardener or orchard keeper.
In the 1881 census there were 23 people recorded with the Semon surname, ranking it #30,339 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 36, ranked #35,648, down from #30,339 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Alkmund, Willesden and Silkstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Semon is 200 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.5%.
1881 census count
23
Ranked #30,339
Modern count
36
2016, ranked #35,648
Peak year
1861
200 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Semon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Semon surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 39 | #26,319 |
| 1861 | historical | 200 | #12,005 |
| 1881 | historical | 23 | #30,339 |
| 1891 | historical | 123 | #20,939 |
| 1901 | historical | 61 | #27,379 |
| 1911 | historical | 99 | #22,850 |
| 1997 | modern | 38 | #33,872 |
| 1998 | modern | 41 | #33,747 |
| 1999 | modern | 40 | #33,967 |
| 2000 | modern | 37 | #34,217 |
| 2001 | modern | 37 | #34,082 |
| 2002 | modern | 40 | #34,133 |
| 2003 | modern | 38 | #34,361 |
| 2004 | modern | 33 | #34,947 |
| 2005 | modern | 32 | #35,191 |
| 2006 | modern | 31 | #35,467 |
| 2007 | modern | 26 | #35,932 |
| 2008 | modern | 30 | #35,736 |
| 2009 | modern | 32 | #35,730 |
| 2010 | modern | 32 | #35,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 33 | #35,777 |
| 2012 | modern | 38 | #35,481 |
| 2013 | modern | 36 | #35,643 |
| 2014 | modern | 38 | #35,547 |
| 2015 | modern | 39 | #35,472 |
| 2016 | modern | 36 | #35,648 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Alkmund, Willesden, Silkstone, London parishes and Ovingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | St Alkmund | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Willesden | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 3 | Silkstone | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Ovingham | Northumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Semon surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Semon, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Semon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Semon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Semon is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Semon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Semon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Semon has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sæmann," which means "seaman" or "sailor." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who worked as a sailor or had a close association with the sea.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a certain "Semannus" who held land in Lincolnshire.
In the 13th century, a variation of the name, "Seman," appeared in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, which were administrative records of the time. This spelling is thought to have been an anglicized version of the original Old English name.
During the 14th century, the surname Semon began to appear in various historical records across different regions of England. For instance, in 1379, a man named John Semon was recorded as a resident of the parish of St. Margaret's, Westminster, in London.
One notable figure bearing this surname was Sir Sampson Semon, a wealthy merchant and Member of Parliament for the City of London in the late 16th century. He was born in 1545 and died in 1610.
Another prominent individual with the surname Semon was Thomas Semon, a Puritan minister who lived in the 17th century. He was born in 1609 and served as the vicar of Plumtree, Nottinghamshire, from 1635 until his death in 1681.
In the 18th century, the Semon family had a presence in the county of Somerset. A man named William Semon, born in 1725, was a notable landowner and farmer in the village of Winsham.
The 19th century saw the birth of Charles Semon, a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. Mary Magdalene in Paddington. He was born in 1815 and died in 1877.
Finally, one of the more recent historical figures with the surname Semon was Sir Harry Semon, a British businessman and philanthropist who lived from 1878 to 1959. He made significant contributions to various charitable organizations during his lifetime.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Semon surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Somerset leads with 10 Semons recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.69x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 10 | 27.69x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 16.53x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 1.78x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 1.35x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.31x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Trister in Somerset leads with 7 Semons recorded in 1881 and an index of 23333.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Stoke Trister | 7 | 23333.33x |
| Nottingham St Peter | 5 | 1470.59x |
| Bradford | 3 | 55.76x |
| St Marylebone London | 3 | 25.04x |
| Otterford | 2 | 6666.67x |
| Bedminster | 1 | 29.50x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 10.28x |
| Stoke | 1 | 2500.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Semon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Semon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Semon households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Market Stander | 3 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Ag Laborer | 1 |
| Agricultural Labourer | 1 |
| Artificial Florist | 1 |
| Housekeeper Unemployed | 1 |
| Lace Maker | 1 |
| Mercantile Clerk | 1 |
| Physician MRCP | 1 |
| Stuff Weaver | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 23 people were recorded with the Semon surname. That placed it at #30,339 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 36 in 2016. That gives Semon a modern rank of #35,648.
A surname derived from the occupation of gardener or orchard keeper.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Semon bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.