Find out how popular the last name Seales is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Seales.

Seales, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Seales surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Seales in America

Seales is the 14434th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Seales surname appeared 2,070 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Seales.

We can also compare 2010 data for Seales to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Seales

The surname Seales has its origins in England, tracing back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "sæl," meaning "seal" or "sea lion," indicating that the earliest bearers of this name were likely associated with coastal areas or involved in maritime activities.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Seales surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a John Sele is mentioned. This document served as a census of landowners in England during the reign of King Edward I.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as Sele, Selie, and Sely, reflecting the regional dialects and spelling variations of the time. The surname is also linked to certain place names, such as Seal in Kent, which was formerly known as "Sele."

During the 15th century, the Seales surname gained prominence with the rise of notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was William Seales (c. 1460-1535), an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Taunton and played a significant role in the establishment of the Church of England during the Reformation.

Another noteworthy individual was Sir John Seales (c. 1520-1593), a successful merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1585. His wealth and influence allowed him to contribute to the development of the city, including the construction of several public buildings.

In the 17th century, the Seales family extended their reach to the American colonies. One prominent member was Edward Seales (c. 1645-1718), a merchant and landowner who settled in Virginia and became a prominent figure in the colony's government and social circles.

The 18th century saw the birth of John Seales (1728-1804), a renowned English architect who designed several notable buildings, including the Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford and the Royal Pavilion in Brighton.

As the centuries progressed, the Seales surname continued to be represented in various fields, including literature, politics, and the arts. Notable individuals include the British writer and critic John Seales (1892-1975) and the American painter and printmaker Robert Seales (1913-1997).

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Seales

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Seales.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Seales was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Seales has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Seales was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Seales, please contact us.

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