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

Seeley, 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 Seeley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Seeley in America

Seeley is the 3264th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Seeley surname appeared 11,061 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Seeley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Seeley 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 Seeley

The surname Seeley is of English origin and is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sele," which means "a dwelling, hall, or cottage." It is thought to have emerged as a surname in the 12th or 13th century, initially given to someone who lived in a particular hall or cottage.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Norfolk, dated 1273, where it is listed as "Seley." The Hundredorum Rolls, also known as the Rotuli Hundredorum, were a series of inquisitions or surveys conducted in England between 1274 and 1275, providing valuable information about landholders and their holdings.

The surname Seeley is also believed to have originated from various place names throughout England, such as Selly in Worcestershire, Selly Park in Birmingham, and Selly Oak, also in Birmingham. These place names are thought to have derived from the same Old English word "sele."

In the 16th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, including Seely, Seeley, Seely, and Ceely. One notable individual from this period was John Seeley, born around 1550 in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. He was a prominent Puritan minister and author.

Another notable figure was Sir John Seeley, born in 1594 in Great Baddow, Essex. He was a wealthy merchant and philanthropist who founded the prestigious Seeley Lectureship at Oxford University.

In the 17th century, the surname became more widely established, and several individuals with the name gained recognition. One such person was Richard Seeley, born in 1605 in Woodford, Essex. He was a renowned Puritan minister and author.

During the 18th century, the name continued to spread throughout England. One notable individual from this period was Sir Robert Seeley, born in 1742 in Leicestershire. He was a prominent military officer who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, the surname Seeley gained further prominence with individuals like Sir John Robert Seeley, born in 1834 in London. He was a renowned historian and professor at the University of Cambridge, known for his works on British history and the expansion of the British Empire.

Throughout its history, the surname Seeley has been associated with various professions, including clergy, merchants, military officers, academics, and authors. The name has endured and continues to be found in various parts of the English-speaking world.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Seeley

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

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 Seeley 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 Seeley 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 Seeley was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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