UK surname
A surname referring to a person living near a wood or thicket.
In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Sett surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23, ranked #36,457, down from #31,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Glatton and Manningford Bruce. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sett is 142 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.8%.
1881 census count
18
Ranked #31,019
Modern count
23
2016, ranked #36,457
Peak year
1861
142 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sett surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sett surname density by area, 1861 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 | 18 | #30,094 |
| 1861 | historical | 142 | #15,982 |
| 1881 | historical | 18 | #31,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 29 | #31,963 |
| 1901 | historical | 3 | #34,063 |
| 1911 | historical | 30 | #30,073 |
| 1997 | modern | 15 | #36,409 |
| 1998 | modern | 16 | #36,361 |
| 1999 | modern | 14 | #36,595 |
| 2000 | modern | 13 | #36,635 |
| 2001 | modern | 15 | #36,265 |
| 2002 | modern | 14 | #36,484 |
| 2003 | modern | 17 | #36,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 19 | #36,147 |
| 2005 | modern | 18 | #36,332 |
| 2006 | modern | 16 | #36,601 |
| 2007 | modern | 22 | #36,213 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 24 | #36,261 |
| 2010 | modern | 26 | #36,220 |
| 2011 | modern | 31 | #35,892 |
| 2012 | modern | 25 | #36,227 |
| 2013 | modern | 26 | #36,217 |
| 2014 | modern | 28 | #36,107 |
| 2015 | modern | 24 | #36,364 |
| 2016 | modern | 23 | #36,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Glatton, Manningford Bruce, St Leonard Shoreditch and London parishes. 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 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Glatton | Northamptonshire |
| 3 | Manningford Bruce | Wiltshire |
| 4 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sett 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 Sett, 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 Sett surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sett 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, Sett 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 Sett is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sett, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SETT is of English origin, first appearing in records during the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "sæt," meaning a seat or residence. This suggests that the name was initially used to describe someone who lived near a particular landmark or location.
Some of the earliest recorded instances of the SETT surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from 1195, where a Richard de Sette is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also contain references to individuals with the SETT surname in various counties across England.
During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name appeared in various spellings, such as Sette, Sette, and Sett, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and writing at the time. It is also possible that the name is related to the Old English word "gesett," meaning a settler or someone who had established a residence in a particular area.
In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several mentions of places with names like "Setta" and "Sette," which could be connected to the origin of the SETT surname. These place names may have been derived from the Old English word "sæt" or could have been related to the names of early settlers in those areas.
One notable individual with the SETT surname was John Sett (c. 1420 - 1490), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Lincolnshire, England. Another prominent figure was Sir William Sett (c. 1550 - 1623), a Member of Parliament and Lord Mayor of London in 1616.
Other historical figures with the SETT surname include:
1. Thomas Sett (c. 1580 - 1658), an English clergyman and author. 2. Edward Sett (c. 1625 - 1699), a British explorer and cartographer. 3. Mary Sett (c. 1670 - 1738), an English philanthropist and founder of a charity school. 4. John Sett (c. 1720 - 1805), a British naval officer and explorer. 5. William Sett (c. 1775 - 1845), an English industrialist and inventor.
The SETT surname has persisted throughout the centuries, with individuals bearing this name making significant contributions in various fields across different regions of England and beyond.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sett 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. Surrey leads with 10 Setts recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.39x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 10 | 12.39x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 7.85x |
| Channel Islands | 1 | 20.37x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 7.79x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 1.79x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 4.62x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.61x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rotherhithe in Surrey leads with 7 Setts recorded in 1881 and an index of 341.46x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Rotherhithe | 7 | 341.46x |
| Southwark St Saviour | 3 | 352.94x |
| Old Buckenham | 2 | 2857.14x |
| Bilston | 1 | 92.59x |
| Dudley | 1 | 38.02x |
| Middle Greenock | 1 | 285.71x |
| St Peter Port | 1 | 109.89x |
| York St Michael Le | 1 | 2000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sett 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 Sett 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 Sett households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 5 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Farmer | 1 |
| Farmer Wife | 1 |
| Hawker | 1 |
| Housekeeper (Dom) | 1 |
| Musician | 1 |
| Sawmill Laborer | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Sett surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 23 in 2016. That gives Sett a modern rank of #36,457.
A surname referring to a person living near a wood or thicket.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sett 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.