NameCensus.

UK surname

Saba

An Italian surname referring to someone from Savoy or derived from the Arabic word for "lion cub."

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham and Slough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Saba is 316 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

307

2016, ranked #14,508

Peak year

2014

316 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 307 in 2016, ranked #14,508.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Saba surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Saba surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Saba 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 2 #33,133
1891 historical 5 #33,939
1901 historical 4 #33,876
1911 historical 6 #33,255
1997 modern 114 #24,967
1998 modern 122 #24,556
1999 modern 129 #23,907
2000 modern 126 #24,220
2001 modern 127 #23,781
2002 modern 146 #22,302
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 154 #21,432
2005 modern 170 #20,066
2006 modern 190 #18,898
2007 modern 209 #17,951
2008 modern 235 #16,777
2009 modern 251 #16,368
2010 modern 264 #16,163
2011 modern 281 #15,276
2012 modern 295 #14,670
2013 modern 304 #14,614
2014 modern 316 #14,301
2015 modern 303 #14,646
2016 modern 307 #14,508

Geography

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Where Sabas are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Hammersmith and Fulham, Slough and Bolton. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 016 Westminster
2 Westminster 012 Westminster
3 Hammersmith and Fulham 015 Hammersmith and Fulham
4 Slough 006 Slough
5 Bolton 025 Bolton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Saba

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Saba

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Saba, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Saba surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Saba household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Saba 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

Saba is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Saba falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Saba is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Saba

The surname SABA originates from Italy, with its earliest recorded use dating back to the Middle Ages. The name is believed to be derived from the Latin word "sabbatum," meaning Saturday or the Sabbath day. This suggests that the name may have been given to a person or family who observed the Sabbath with particular diligence or lived near a place associated with the Sabbath.

SABA is thought to have originated in the region of Tuscany, specifically in the city of Siena. The earliest known record of the name appears in a document from the 13th century, where a certain Guido di SABA is mentioned as a landowner in the area.

During the Renaissance period, the name SABA gained prominence in the city of Venice. One notable figure was Giovanni SABA, a renowned Venetian painter who lived from 1516 to 1594. His works, which include religious paintings and portraits, can be found in various churches and galleries across Italy.

In the 17th century, the SABA family established itself as a prominent noble family in the city of Naples. One of the most distinguished members was Niccolò SABA (1619-1678), a respected jurist and legal scholar who served as a judge in the Neapolitan court.

Another notable figure bearing the surname SABA was Carlo SABA (1743-1817), an Italian mathematician and astronomer. He made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and was appointed as the director of the Astronomical Observatory in Padua.

In the 19th century, Giuseppe SABA (1833-1909) was a prominent Italian journalist and writer. He founded several newspapers and served as a member of the Italian parliament, representing the city of Turin.

The name SABA has also been associated with various place names throughout Italy, such as the town of Sabaudia in the province of Latina, and the Saba River, a tributary of the Adige River in the Veneto region.

While the surname SABA is more prevalent in Italy, it can also be found in other parts of Europe and the Americas, likely due to migration patterns. However, the historical records and notable figures mentioned above highlight the rich heritage and significance of this surname within the Italian cultural and historical context.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Saba surname: questions and answers

How common is the Saba surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 307 in 2016. That gives Saba a modern rank of #14,508.

What does the Saba surname mean?

An Italian surname referring to someone from Savoy or derived from the Arabic word for "lion cub."

What does the Saba map show?

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