NameCensus.

UK surname

Setchfield

A locational surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "sæc" meaning "dry ground" and "feld" meaning "field".

In the 1881 census there were 142 people recorded with the Setchfield surname, ranking it #16,012 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 312, ranked #14,350, up from #16,012 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, Peterborough St John the Baptist and Doddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Peterborough and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Setchfield is 332 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 119.7%.

1881 census count

142

Ranked #16,012

Modern count

312

2016, ranked #14,350

Peak year

1998

332 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Setchfield had 142 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #16,012 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 312 in 2016, ranked #14,350.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 252 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Setchfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Setchfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Setchfield 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 152 #12,786
1861 historical 138 #16,365
1881 historical 142 #16,012
1891 historical 169 #16,885
1901 historical 235 #13,662
1911 historical 252 #12,834
1997 modern 317 #13,053
1998 modern 332 #12,990
1999 modern 324 #13,288
2000 modern 322 #13,307
2001 modern 306 #13,565
2002 modern 320 #13,414
2003 modern 307 #13,614
2004 modern 316 #13,425
2005 modern 307 #13,625
2006 modern 303 #13,834
2007 modern 320 #13,442
2008 modern 319 #13,581
2009 modern 308 #14,161
2010 modern 311 #14,345
2011 modern 310 #14,292
2012 modern 312 #14,131
2013 modern 304 #14,614
2014 modern 304 #14,703
2015 modern 311 #14,369
2016 modern 312 #14,350

Geography

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Where Setchfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, Peterborough St John the Baptist, Doddington, Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Peterborough and Fenland. 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 Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth Cambridgeshire
2 Peterborough St John the Baptist Northamptonshire
3 Doddington Cambridgeshire
4 Whittlesey St Mary and St Andrew, Standground (Stilton & Peterborough, Northamptonshire) Cambridgeshire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Peterborough 013 Peterborough
2 Peterborough 007 Peterborough
3 Fenland 010 Fenland
4 Peterborough 014 Peterborough
5 Fenland 011 Fenland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Setchfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Setchfield

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Setchfield 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

Setchfield is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Setchfield

The surname Setchfield is of English origin, with roots tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place called Setchfield or a variation thereof, likely a small village or hamlet.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Setchfield can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a Willelmus de Sechesfeld is mentioned. This entry suggests that the name was already in use and established by the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the Setchfield surname appears in various historical records, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, where a Johannes Setchfeld is listed. This variation in spelling, Setchfeld, was likely a common occurrence in those times due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

During the 15th century, the Setchfield name can be found in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, from 1421. This record mentions a John Sechfeld, further reinforcing the connection of the surname to the Yorkshire region.

One notable figure bearing the Setchfield name was Sir Thomas Setchfield (1495-1568), a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for East Retford during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. His coat of arms, depicting three golden wheatsheaves on a blue field, is a testament to the family's historical significance.

Another individual of note was Robert Setchfield (1592-1668), a renowned English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Milton Abbot in Devonshire. His published works, including "The Christian's Charge" and "The Touchstone of Grace," provided valuable insights into the religious discourse of the time.

In the 17th century, the Setchfield surname is found in the Parish Registers of St. Martin's in Birmingham, with the baptism of John Setchfield recorded in 1631. This entry suggests the gradual spread of the name beyond its Yorkshire origins.

The 18th century saw the birth of William Setchfield (1732-1806), a renowned architect and surveyor who contributed to the design and construction of several notable buildings in London, including the iconic Somerset House.

As the name Setchfield continued to spread across England, it also found its way into literary works. One such example is the novel "The Setchfield Mystery" by John Galt, published in 1838, which featured characters bearing the surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Setchfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Setchfield 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 87 Setchfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 99.17x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 87 99.17x
Middlesex 13 0.94x
Norfolk 10 4.70x
Northamptonshire 10 7.68x
Essex 8 2.93x
Huntingdonshire 5 18.18x
Yorkshire 3 0.22x
Lincolnshire 2 0.90x
Nottinghamshire 2 1.07x
Derbyshire 1 0.46x
Sussex 1 0.43x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whittlesey St Mary St in Cambridgeshire leads with 25 Setchfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 816.99x.

Place Total Index
Whittlesey St Mary St 25 816.99x
Doddington 22 3437.50x
March 14 476.19x
Chatteris 12 535.71x
Peterborough 10 106.04x
Great Parndon 8 3478.26x
Wimblington 8 1538.46x
Bow London 6 34.03x
Welney 6 1224.49x
Mile End Old Town 5 22.87x
Manea 4 727.27x
Upwell 4 404.04x
Sawtry All Sts 3 937.50x
Bulmer Stittenham 2 1333.33x
Fletton 2 227.27x
Newark Upon Trent 2 29.81x
Thorney 2 206.19x
Buxton 1 54.35x
Fulbeck 1 322.58x
Greatford 1 1000.00x
Hastings St Mary 1 17.21x
Haworth 1 30.67x
St Bartholomew Less 1 140.85x
Stoke Newington London 1 9.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 8
Elizabeth 7
Eliza 5
Jane 5
Emma 4
Esther 4
Mary 4
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Emily 3
Rebecca 3
Edith 2
Maud 2
Selina 2
Amelia 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Arthur 1
Betsy 1
Catherin 1
Ethel 1
Flora 1
Hannah 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lidia 1
Louisa 1
Mann 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Nelly 1
Rose 1
Susan 1
Suson 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 14
John 10
George 7
Daniel 4
James 4
Edward 3
Harry 3
Alfred 2
Anthony 2
Arthur 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Albert 1
Benjamin 1
Cecil 1
Charles 1
D. 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Jeremia 1
Joseph 1
Stephen 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Setchfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Setchfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 142 people were recorded with the Setchfield surname. That placed it at #16,012 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Setchfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 312 in 2016. That gives Setchfield a modern rank of #14,350.

What does the Setchfield surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name containing the Old English elements "sæc" meaning "dry ground" and "feld" meaning "field".

What does the Setchfield map show?

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