NameCensus.

UK surname

Seton

A habitational surname derived from places called Seton in East Lothian and West Lothian, Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 285 people recorded with the Seton surname, ranking it #10,070 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 259, ranked #16,393, down from #10,070 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Darlington and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northern and Irvine Valley Rural, South Somerset and Southwark.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Seton is 326 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 9.1%.

1881 census count

285

Ranked #10,070

Modern count

259

2016, ranked #16,393

Peak year

2000

326 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Seton had 285 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,070 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 259 in 2016, ranked #16,393.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 285 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Seton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Seton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Seton 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 253 #8,709
1861 historical 208 #11,642
1881 historical 285 #10,070
1891 historical 278 #11,746
1901 historical 280 #12,193
1911 historical 219 #14,136
1997 modern 299 #13,563
1998 modern 318 #13,362
1999 modern 317 #13,473
2000 modern 326 #13,188
2001 modern 303 #13,645
2002 modern 306 #13,835
2003 modern 302 #13,752
2004 modern 310 #13,589
2005 modern 303 #13,757
2006 modern 300 #13,911
2007 modern 302 #13,997
2008 modern 303 #14,038
2009 modern 302 #14,353
2010 modern 297 #14,841
2011 modern 287 #15,044
2012 modern 278 #15,333
2013 modern 284 #15,358
2014 modern 284 #15,455
2015 modern 277 #15,622
2016 modern 259 #16,393

Geography

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Where Setons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Darlington, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northern and Irvine Valley Rural, South Somerset, Southwark, Sefton and Stenhousemuir West. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Darlington Durham
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northern and Irvine Valley Rural East Ayrshire
2 South Somerset 005 South Somerset
3 Southwark 025 Southwark
4 Sefton 005 Sefton
5 Stenhousemuir West Falkirk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Seton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Seton

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Seton 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

Seton 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

Seton falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Seton is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Seton

The surname SETON has its origins in Scotland, with records indicating its use dating back to the 12th century. The name is derived from the Old English word "set-tun," meaning a farm or settlement. It is believed to have originated from the village of Seton, located in East Lothian, Scotland.

One of the earliest recorded references to the SETON name can be found in the Ragman Rolls, a collection of homage pledges given to King Edward I of England in the late 13th century. The document includes the names of several individuals with the surname SETON, suggesting their presence and influence in Scotland at that time.

In the 14th century, the SETON family played a significant role in Scottish history. Sir Christopher Seton (c. 1278 - c. 1316) was a prominent Scottish knight and supporter of Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Another notable figure was George Seton (c. 1350 - 1419), who served as the Lord High Chancellor of Scotland under King Robert III.

The SETON surname has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Seton Mains, Seton Castle, and Seton Collegiate Church. The Seton family held lands and estates in East Lothian for several centuries, further solidifying their connection to the region.

During the 16th century, a branch of the SETON family emigrated to France, where they became known as the Seton de Cron. One notable member of this line was Alexander Seton de Cron (1555 - 1616), a Scottish-French nobleman and military commander who served under King Henry IV of France.

In the 17th century, the SETON surname gained further prominence with the birth of William Seton (1639 - 1698), a Scottish Baronet and Member of Parliament. His daughter, Elizabeth Ann Seton (1774 - 1821), is recognized as the first American-born saint in the Catholic Church, known for her charitable works and establishing the Sisters of Charity.

Other notable individuals with the surname SETON include Ernest Thompson Seton (1860 - 1946), a renowned English-Canadian author, naturalist, and co-founder of the Boy Scouts of America, and Grace Gallatin Seton-Thompson (1872 - 1959), an American novelist and pioneer of the modern animal story genre.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Seton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Seton 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. Midlothian leads with 65 Setons recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.45x.

County Total Index
Midlothian 65 17.45x
Middlesex 26 0.94x
Surrey 23 1.70x
Durham 20 2.42x
Ayrshire 17 8.17x
Lanarkshire 17 1.89x
Lancashire 13 0.39x
Yorkshire 12 0.44x
Aberdeenshire 10 3.88x
Fife 10 6.08x
Sussex 8 1.71x
Warwickshire 8 1.14x
Clackmannanshire 7 30.49x
Stirlingshire 7 6.83x
Northumberland 6 1.45x
Perthshire 6 4.81x
West Lothian 6 14.33x
Angus 4 1.55x
Argyllshire 4 5.17x
Kent 4 0.42x
Cumberland 2 0.84x
Dumfriesshire 2 3.26x
Roxburghshire 2 3.97x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.60x
Caithness 1 2.63x
Glamorgan 1 0.21x
Gloucestershire 1 0.18x
Kincardineshire 1 2.95x
Wiltshire 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 28 Setons recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.69x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 28 18.69x
Aberdeen Old Machar 10 18.60x
Barony 10 4.39x
Cockerton 9 339.62x
Brighton 8 8.46x
Lambeth 8 3.30x
Rotherhithe 8 23.29x
Wardleworth 8 42.44x
Alloa 7 62.89x
Birmingham 7 3.00x
Gateshead 7 11.30x
Kensington London 7 4.53x
Falkland 6 231.66x
Kilmaurs 6 169.49x
Linlithgow 6 111.73x
Monkton Prestwick 6 295.57x
Rawdon 6 185.19x
St George Bloomsbury 6 37.62x
Westgate 6 23.42x
Battersea 5 4.89x
Cramond 5 177.31x
Girvan 5 95.79x
Glasgow 5 3.13x
Paddington London 5 4.89x
South Leith 5 11.93x
St Ninians 5 49.21x
Cockpen 4 91.95x
Edinburgh Old 4 176.99x
Kilfinichen 4 209.42x
Lowton 4 178.57x
Clifton In York 3 52.08x
Duddingston 3 40.11x
Edinburgh High Church 3 128.21x
Edinburgh New 3 103.81x
Folkestone 3 16.30x
Kirkden 3 186.34x
Leeds 3 1.93x
Monzievaird Strowan 3 447.76x
Stranton 3 10.78x
Edinburgh Canongate 2 21.10x
Edinburgh St Georges 2 25.87x
Frimley 2 51.81x
Govan 2 0.90x
Kelso 2 39.84x
Pittenweem 2 98.52x
Stanwix 2 103.09x
Stirling 2 15.47x
Aberdare 1 3.01x
Barnard Castle 1 24.45x
Bexley 1 11.92x
Charlecote 1 400.00x
Chelsea London 1 1.19x
Cheltenham 1 2.38x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.52x
Collessie 1 52.91x
Dundee 1 1.04x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 1 38.76x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 13.81x
Edinburgh Trinity 1 83.33x
Eton 1 26.25x
Glencorse 1 69.93x
Hammersmith London 1 1.46x
Harpurhey 1 21.83x
Islington London 1 0.37x
Kinnoull 1 30.49x
Lochmaben 1 37.17x
Logierait 1 45.45x
Markinch 1 17.89x
Marykirk 1 71.43x
Muthill 1 61.35x
Newton 1 80.00x
North Leith 1 5.80x
Salisbury St Thomas 1 51.28x
Shoreditch London 1 0.83x
St George Hanover 1 2.76x
St Mungo 1 158.73x
St Pancras London 1 0.45x
Watten 1 74.63x
Westminster St James 1 3.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Elizabeth 6
Emma 4
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Sarah 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Catherine 2
Eliza 2
Jean 2
Jessie 2
Maria 2
Alice 1
Alicia 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Anne 1
Barbara 1
Charlotte 1
Christiana 1
Claude 1
E.R.L. 1
E.S. 1
Effie 1
Eleanor 1
Elsie 1
Emily 1
Grace 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Infant 1
Isabella 1
Josephine 1
Kate 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
M.C. 1
Martha 1
Rosina 1
U.M. 1
W.W. 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 6
George 5
Alexander 4
Bruce 4
Charles 4
James 4
John 4
David 3
Henry 2
Thomas 2
Agnes 1
Andrew 1
Arthur 1
Bertram 1
Christr.E. 1
Christus 1
Francis 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Malcolm 1
Matthew 1
Patrick 1
Robert 1
Stephen 1
Walter 1
Wm.C. 1

FAQ

Seton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Seton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 285 people were recorded with the Seton surname. That placed it at #10,070 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Seton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 259 in 2016. That gives Seton a modern rank of #16,393.

What does the Seton surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from places called Seton in East Lothian and West Lothian, Scotland.

What does the Seton map show?

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