NameCensus.

UK surname

Sene

An Italian surname derived from the provincial name Sena referring to Siena.

In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Sene surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 109, ranked #29,402, up from #30,872 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Hackney, Arun and Reigate and Banstead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sene is 116 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 473.7%.

1881 census count

19

Ranked #30,872

Modern count

109

2016, ranked #29,402

Peak year

2011

116 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sene had 19 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,872 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016, ranked #29,402.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 32 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Sene surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sene surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sene 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 28 #30,405
1881 historical 19 #30,872
1891 historical 26 #32,189
1901 historical 15 #32,383
1911 historical 32 #29,838
1997 modern 94 #27,781
1998 modern 92 #28,680
1999 modern 89 #29,168
2000 modern 85 #29,598
2001 modern 89 #28,932
2002 modern 88 #29,534
2003 modern 90 #29,260
2004 modern 91 #29,345
2005 modern 83 #30,486
2006 modern 86 #30,425
2007 modern 89 #30,383
2008 modern 102 #28,664
2009 modern 107 #28,483
2010 modern 115 #27,874
2011 modern 116 #27,477
2012 modern 109 #28,689
2013 modern 107 #29,561
2014 modern 109 #29,452
2015 modern 107 #29,708
2016 modern 109 #29,402

Geography

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Where Senes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Hackney, Arun, Reigate and Banstead and Haringey. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Hackney 025 Hackney
2 Arun 009 Arun
3 Reigate and Banstead 002 Reigate and Banstead
4 Arun 007 Arun
5 Haringey 034 Haringey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sene

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sene

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Sene surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Sene 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 includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Sene is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sene 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

Sene falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sene is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

This describes the area pattern most associated with Sene, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sene

The surname SENE is believed to have originated in France, where it first emerged in the early 12th century. The name is derived from the Old French word "sene," which means "elder tree" or "elder bush." It is thought that the name was initially given as a descriptive surname to someone who lived near an elder tree or grove.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the SENE surname is found in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres, a medieval manuscript from the 12th century. This document contains a reference to a man named Radulfus Sene, who was likely among the first to bear the name.

In the 13th century, the name SENE appeared in various records and charters throughout northern France, particularly in the regions of Normandy and Picardy. During this time, place names like Senemont and Seneville emerged, which may have been influenced by the surname or vice versa.

A notable figure with the SENE surname was Jean Sene, a French nobleman who lived in the 15th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Charles VII and is mentioned in several historical accounts from that era.

In the 16th century, the SENE surname gained further recognition when Jacques Sene (1492-1562) became a renowned French theologian and scholar. He was a professor at the University of Paris and authored several influential works on theology and philosophy.

Another famous bearer of the SENE surname was Pierre Sene (1568-1637), a French architect who designed several notable buildings in Paris, including the Church of Saint-Gervais-et-Saint-Protais and the Hôtel de Ville (City Hall).

During the 17th century, the SENE surname spread beyond France, with some bearers emigrating to other parts of Europe and the Americas. One notable figure from this period was Jean-Baptiste Sene (1623-1702), a French missionary who traveled to Canada and worked among the indigenous communities there.

In the 18th century, the SENE surname continued to be prominent in France, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such person was Étienne Sene (1737-1799), a French military officer who served during the French Revolutionary Wars.

As the centuries passed, the SENE surname evolved and took on various spellings, such as Sené, Seney, and Seni, reflecting the regional and linguistic variations across different parts of France and other countries where the name was established.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sene families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sene 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. Surrey leads with 19 Senes recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.05x.

County Total Index
Surrey 19 21.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Putney in Surrey leads with 16 Senes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1904.76x.

Place Total Index
Putney 16 1904.76x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 80.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Hannah 2
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Mary 1
Sophie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 4
John 3
William 2
Charles 1
Frederick 1
Thomas 1

Top occupations

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 Sene households.

FAQ

Sene surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sene surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Sene surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sene surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 109 in 2016. That gives Sene a modern rank of #29,402.

What does the Sene surname mean?

An Italian surname derived from the provincial name Sena referring to Siena.

What does the Sene map show?

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