NameCensus.

UK surname

Saban

A surname indicating an origin from the ancient region of Saba in present-day Yemen.

In the 1881 census there were 96 people recorded with the Saban surname, ranking it #20,248 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 206, ranked #19,183, up from #20,248 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Epping, London parishes and Enfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Uttlesford, Isle of Wight and Reading.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Saban is 215 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 114.6%.

1881 census count

96

Ranked #20,248

Modern count

206

2016, ranked #19,183

Peak year

2000

215 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Saban had 96 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #20,248 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 206 in 2016, ranked #19,183.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 166 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Saban surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Saban surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Saban 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 44 #25,328
1861 historical 43 #28,562
1881 historical 96 #20,248
1891 historical 130 #20,173
1901 historical 157 #17,577
1911 historical 166 #16,756
1997 modern 192 #18,103
1998 modern 208 #17,693
1999 modern 209 #17,771
2000 modern 215 #17,388
2001 modern 206 #17,624
2002 modern 207 #17,911
2003 modern 207 #17,746
2004 modern 203 #18,061
2005 modern 197 #18,339
2006 modern 206 #17,945
2007 modern 203 #18,303
2008 modern 194 #19,011
2009 modern 206 #18,657
2010 modern 206 #19,066
2011 modern 200 #19,280
2012 modern 195 #19,540
2013 modern 198 #19,657
2014 modern 201 #19,641
2015 modern 202 #19,433
2016 modern 206 #19,183

Geography

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Where Sabans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Epping, London parishes, Enfield and Sawbridgeworth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Uttlesford, Isle of Wight, Reading, Wycombe and East Hertfordshire. 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 Epping Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Enfield Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Sawbridgeworth Hertfordshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Uttlesford 009 Uttlesford
2 Isle of Wight 014 Isle of Wight
3 Reading 008 Reading
4 Wycombe 004 Wycombe
5 East Hertfordshire 017 East Hertfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Saban

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Saban

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Saban surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Saban household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Saban 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

Saban 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

Saban falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Saban is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Saban

The surname Saban is of Arabic origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle East and the region now known as Lebanon. It is believed to have emerged in the 7th or 8th century AD, during the early years of the Islamic Golden Age.

The name Saban is derived from the Arabic word "saba," which means "morning" or "dawn." This connection suggests that the name may have initially been given to individuals born at dawn or associated with the early hours of the day.

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Saban can be found in historical accounts from the 10th century, where it appears in reference to a prominent family living in the city of Tripoli, located in modern-day Lebanon.

In the 12th century, a notable figure named Saban ibn Ibrahim al-Dimashqi, a philosopher and scholar from Damascus, gained recognition for his contributions to the fields of logic and metaphysics.

During the 14th century, the name Saban appeared in several manuscripts and records from the region, including a mention of a merchant named Saban al-Halabi, who hailed from the city of Aleppo in Syria.

As the Saban family spread across the Middle East and beyond, variations in spelling and pronunciation emerged, such as Sabaan, Sebaan, and Seban.

In the 16th century, a famous Turkish admiral named Saban Reis served under the Ottoman Empire, participating in several naval campaigns in the Mediterranean Sea.

Another notable figure with the surname Saban was Saban Oglu, a 17th-century Ottoman statesman and diplomat who played a crucial role in negotiations between the Ottoman Empire and European powers.

In the 19th century, Saban Khalil, a prominent Lebanese poet and writer, gained recognition for his works that celebrated Arabic literature and culture.

As the Saban family continued to disperse across the globe, individuals with this surname made their mark in various fields, such as business, academia, and entertainment. One of the most recognizable names is Nick Saban, an American football coach born in 1951, who has led several collegiate teams to national championships.

Throughout its history, the surname Saban has maintained its Arabic roots and association with the concept of dawn, reflecting the rich cultural heritage of the Middle Eastern region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Saban families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Saban 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. Essex leads with 42 Sabans recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.72x.

County Total Index
Essex 42 22.72x
Hertfordshire 26 40.29x
Middlesex 16 1.71x
Cambridgeshire 6 10.12x
Carmarthenshire 4 10.14x
Surrey 1 0.22x
Sussex 1 0.63x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Hallingbury in Essex leads with 19 Sabans recorded in 1881 and an index of 9500.00x.

Place Total Index
Great Hallingbury 19 9500.00x
Enfield 14 228.01x
Bengeo 10 1333.33x
Epping 10 1333.33x
Sawbridgeworth 9 918.37x
Great Canfield 8 7272.73x
Bartlow 6 15000.00x
Hornchurch 5 549.45x
Llansawel 4 1290.32x
Ware 4 216.22x
Bishop Stortford 2 92.59x
Epsom 1 45.05x
Hertford St Andrew 1 125.00x
Hove 1 14.43x
Islington London 1 1.10x
Kensington London 1 1.92x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

FAQ

Saban surname: questions and answers

How common was the Saban surname in 1881?

In 1881, 96 people were recorded with the Saban surname. That placed it at #20,248 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Saban surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 206 in 2016. That gives Saban a modern rank of #19,183.

What does the Saban surname mean?

A surname indicating an origin from the ancient region of Saba in present-day Yemen.

What does the Saban map show?

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