NameCensus.

UK surname

Sennett

A variant spelling of the surname "Sinnott" from an Irish given name meaning "fox-like" or "wise."

In the 1881 census there were 250 people recorded with the Sennett surname, ranking it #11,070 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 567, ranked #9,065, up from #11,070 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to King's Lynn St Margaret, London parishes and Southampton St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Barnsley, Fenland and Dover.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sennett is 567 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 126.8%.

1881 census count

250

Ranked #11,070

Modern count

567

2016, ranked #9,065

Peak year

2014

567 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sennett had 250 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,070 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 567 in 2016, ranked #9,065.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 368 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Sennett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sennett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sennett 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 107 #16,402
1861 historical 168 #13,895
1881 historical 250 #11,070
1891 historical 257 #12,476
1901 historical 359 #10,242
1911 historical 368 #9,886
1997 modern 511 #9,162
1998 modern 536 #9,099
1999 modern 544 #9,055
2000 modern 535 #9,144
2001 modern 526 #9,112
2002 modern 543 #9,059
2003 modern 540 #8,967
2004 modern 526 #9,167
2005 modern 511 #9,297
2006 modern 508 #9,369
2007 modern 515 #9,357
2008 modern 530 #9,219
2009 modern 540 #9,294
2010 modern 546 #9,408
2011 modern 550 #9,268
2012 modern 546 #9,221
2013 modern 553 #9,299
2014 modern 567 #9,161
2015 modern 558 #9,193
2016 modern 567 #9,065

Geography

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Where Sennetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around King's Lynn St Margaret, London parishes, Southampton St Mary, Lambeth and Liverpool. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Barnsley, Fenland, Dover and Doncaster. 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 King's Lynn St Margaret Norfolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Liverpool Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Barnsley 006 Barnsley
2 Fenland 006 Fenland
3 Dover 010 Dover
4 Doncaster 006 Doncaster
5 Dover 006 Dover

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sennett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sennett

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Sennett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Sennett household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sennett is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Sennett is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sennett falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sennett 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sennett

The surname Sennett has its origins in the Old English language and is derived from the word "seneht," which means "to age" or "to grow old." This name likely emerged as a descriptive surname, bestowed upon an individual whose physical appearance suggested advanced age or maturity.

In medieval England, the name was initially found in various regions, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Seneht."

During the 13th century, the Sennett family established roots in the county of Nottinghamshire, specifically in the village of Sennett, which was likely named after an early bearer of the surname. This connection between the surname and the place name is a common occurrence in the evolution of English surnames.

Notable individuals bearing the Sennett surname include Richard Sennett, a renowned American sociologist and author born in 1943, who has written extensively on cities, social life, and the impact of capitalism on society. Another prominent figure is Sir Walter Sennett (1551-1611), an English soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

In the realm of literature, the name is associated with Robert Sennett (1592-1668), an English clergyman and author who published several religious works, including "A Treatise on Conscience" in 1636. Additionally, John Sennett (1674-1737) was a British architect known for his work on several country houses and estates in the early 18th century.

The Sennett family also has a connection to the American West, as evidenced by the life of Thomas Sennett (1824-1902), a prominent cattle rancher and landowner in Texas during the late 19th century.

These examples illustrate the diverse historical figures who have borne the surname Sennett, reflecting its enduring presence across various professions and regions over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sennett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sennett 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. Middlesex leads with 43 Sennetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.78x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 43 1.78x
Yorkshire 38 1.59x
Lancashire 31 1.08x
Devon 27 5.38x
Surrey 17 1.45x
Durham 15 2.09x
Kent 11 1.34x
Hampshire 10 2.03x
Cheshire 8 1.50x
Lanarkshire 8 1.03x
Warwickshire 8 1.32x
Norfolk 7 1.89x
Cornwall 6 2.20x
Nottinghamshire 5 1.54x
Dorset 3 1.90x
Sussex 3 0.74x
Angus 1 0.45x
Cumberland 1 0.48x
Essex 1 0.21x
Hertfordshire 1 0.60x
Northamptonshire 1 0.44x
Royal Navy 1 3.48x
Wiltshire 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 21 Sennetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.83x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 21 59.83x
Liverpool 14 8.06x
Preston 14 1060.61x
Islington London 11 4.71x
Birmingham 8 3.95x
Glasgow 8 5.78x
Tranmere 8 40.92x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 7 62.95x
Southwark Christchurch 7 62.00x
Toxteth Park 7 7.23x
Worsbrough 7 100.00x
Bethnal Green London 6 5.73x
Camberwell 6 3.90x
Gillingham 6 35.40x
Paddington London 6 6.77x
Normanton 5 69.74x
Nottingham St Mary 5 5.95x
Pudsey 5 39.19x
St Michaels Mount 5 7142.86x
Westminster St John 5 17.04x
Widnes 5 24.25x
Hackney London 4 2.96x
Hoyland Nether 4 68.26x
Iveston 4 121.21x
St Marylebone London 4 3.11x
St Pancras London 4 2.06x
Winlaton 4 58.14x
Broughton In Salford 3 11.48x
Heene 3 428.57x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 7.77x
Southampton St Mary 3 9.66x
Willington 3 72.46x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 3.20x
Barnsley 2 8.12x
Bermondsey 2 2.79x
Bishopwearmouth 2 3.25x
East Murton 2 149.25x
Exeter St Sidwell 2 17.41x
Hoo 2 183.49x
Lambeth 2 0.95x
Melcombe Regis 2 30.53x
Portsmouth 2 17.59x
Romsey Infra 2 119.76x
Aldershot 1 6.05x
Alverstoke 1 5.60x
Arbroath 1 13.51x
Bexley 1 13.76x
Bromley London 1 1.89x
Castleford 1 11.51x
Chipping Barnet 1 34.48x
Devonport 1 17.36x
Dorchester St Peter 1 86.96x
Fisherton Anger 1 25.38x
Hampstead London 1 2.67x
Illogan 1 13.85x
Irton With Santon 1 196.08x
Margate St John Baptist 1 6.64x
Northampton All Sts 1 13.00x
Portsea 1 1.03x
Ramsgate 1 7.45x
Royal Navy 1 4.08x
St Clement Danes 1 25.64x
Walthanstow 1 126.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Ann 5
Ellen 5
Emily 5
Julia 5
Sarah 5
Elizabeth 4
Amelia 3
Annie 3
Catherine 3
Eliza 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Alice 2
Bridgett 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Emmeline 2
Gertrude 2
Laura 2
Louisa 2
Maria 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Ada 1
Alicia 1
Anne 1
Augusta 1
Bessie 1
Blanche 1
Carilean 1
Caroline 1
Clara 1
Deborah 1
Elizth. 1
Epsworth 1
Ethel 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Jessie 1
June 1
Mabel 1
Marth 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
Muriel 1
Polly 1
Rosina 1
Teresia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 16
William 12
John 10
Thomas 8
George 7
Edward 6
Joseph 6
Alfred 5
Frederick 5
Patrick 5
Richard 4
Charles 3
Henry 3
Chris 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Edwd. 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fredc. 1
Geo. 1
Hamen 1
Harry 1
Heber 1
Horace 1
Isaac 1
Jeremiah 1
Jonathan 1
Marrack 1
Miles 1
Oscar 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1
Richd 1
Richd.Christopher 1
Richd.J. 1
Thos. 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Sennett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sennett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 250 people were recorded with the Sennett surname. That placed it at #11,070 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sennett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 567 in 2016. That gives Sennett a modern rank of #9,065.

What does the Sennett surname mean?

A variant spelling of the surname "Sinnott" from an Irish given name meaning "fox-like" or "wise."

What does the Sennett map show?

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