NameCensus.

UK surname

Sach

A surname derived from the German word "Sache" meaning "thing" or "object".

In the 1881 census there were 382 people recorded with the Sach surname, ranking it #8,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 573, ranked #9,014, down from #8,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Chigwell, London parishes and Ealing, Chiswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thurrock, Braintree and Maldon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sach is 615 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 50.0%.

1881 census count

382

Ranked #8,222

Modern count

573

2016, ranked #9,014

Peak year

2010

615 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sach had 382 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 573 in 2016, ranked #9,014.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 500 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Sach surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sach surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sach 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 267 #8,342
1861 historical 298 #8,485
1881 historical 382 #8,222
1891 historical 384 #9,166
1901 historical 500 #8,060
1911 historical 387 #9,511
1997 modern 582 #8,320
1998 modern 595 #8,445
1999 modern 585 #8,587
2000 modern 596 #8,465
2001 modern 576 #8,523
2002 modern 576 #8,674
2003 modern 550 #8,843
2004 modern 551 #8,845
2005 modern 566 #8,621
2006 modern 555 #8,752
2007 modern 552 #8,883
2008 modern 567 #8,761
2009 modern 592 #8,681
2010 modern 615 #8,626
2011 modern 598 #8,718
2012 modern 585 #8,763
2013 modern 590 #8,848
2014 modern 594 #8,872
2015 modern 581 #8,944
2016 modern 573 #9,014

Geography

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Where Sachs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Chigwell, London parishes, Ealing, Chiswick, Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a and Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thurrock, Braintree and Maldon. 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 Chigwell Essex
2 London parishes London 3
3 Ealing, Chiswick Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
4 Colchester St Botolph, St Mary at the Walls, St Giles, St Mary Magdalen, Holy Trinity, St Runwald, a Essex
5 Great and Little Totham, Goldhanger, Heybridge, Tolleshunt Major, Tolleshunt Knights, Tolleshunt Dar Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thurrock 018 Thurrock
2 Thurrock 012 Thurrock
3 Thurrock 015 Thurrock
4 Braintree 014 Braintree
5 Maldon 003 Maldon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sach

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sach

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Sach surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Sach household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Sach is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sach is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sach falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sach 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 Sach, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sach

The surname SACH has its origins in Germany, where it first emerged in the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "sach," which means "court" or "legal matter," suggesting that the name may have been associated with individuals who worked in the legal or judicial system.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the town of Sachsenhausen, located near Frankfurt, which was a significant center of legal activity during the Middle Ages. It is possible that the name SACH was initially a locative surname, referring to individuals who hailed from this area.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johannes Sach, a lawyer and legal scholar who lived in the city of Nuremberg in the late 15th century. His writings on German legal practices and customs have been preserved and provide valuable insights into the legal system of that era.

In the 16th century, Hans Sach, a famous German mastersinger and shoemaker from Nuremberg, gained recognition for his numerous plays, poems, and songs. Born in 1494 and dying in 1576, he is considered one of the most prolific writers of his time and a significant figure in the literary history of Germany.

Another notable individual with the surname SACH was Johann Sach, a German composer and organist who lived from 1650 to 1721. He served as the organist at the Marktkirche in Wittenberg and is remembered for his contributions to the development of Protestant church music in the early 18th century.

During the 17th century, the name SACH also appeared in various records and manuscripts in the region of Saxony, which shares a linguistic connection with the Old German word "sach." This further reinforces the possibility that the name originated from this area.

In the 19th century, Carl Sach, a German botanist and naturalist born in 1788, made significant contributions to the study of plant life. His extensive research and publications on the flora of Germany and neighboring regions earned him recognition among the scientific community of his time.

Overall, the surname SACH has a rich history deeply rooted in the German traditions of law, literature, music, and science, with its origins dating back to the medieval period and spanning several centuries of notable individuals bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sach families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sach 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 267 Sachs recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.39x.

County Total Index
Essex 267 36.39x
Middlesex 54 1.45x
Suffolk 12 2.65x
Sussex 8 1.28x
Cheshire 7 0.85x
Kent 7 0.55x
Surrey 5 0.28x
Devon 4 0.52x
Yorkshire 4 0.11x
Bedfordshire 3 1.56x
Berkshire 2 0.72x
Dorset 2 0.82x
Monmouthshire 2 0.74x
Gloucestershire 1 0.14x
Huntingdonshire 1 1.36x
Shropshire 1 0.31x
Worcestershire 1 0.21x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ealing in Middlesex leads with 21 Sachs recorded in 1881 and an index of 63.23x.

Place Total Index
Ealing 21 63.23x
West Ham 19 11.73x
Messing 17 1847.83x
Great Coggeshall 14 366.49x
Tollesbury 13 706.52x
Heybridge 11 516.43x
Layer Marney 9 2500.00x
Rainham 9 562.50x
Birch 8 666.67x
Hutton 8 1403.51x
St George Hanover 8 16.49x
Stebbing 8 563.38x
Woodham Mortimer 8 1904.76x
Colchester St Giles 7 96.55x
East Ham 7 51.40x
Leyton 7 55.38x
Macclesfield 7 19.19x
Rawreth 7 1666.67x
Southchurch 7 1029.41x
Brighton 6 4.75x
Cranham 6 1132.08x
Great Baddow 6 229.89x
Hackney London 6 2.88x
Lewisham 6 8.87x
Orsett 6 314.14x
Rochford 6 281.69x
Tolleshunt Knights 6 1034.48x
Upminster 6 394.74x
Woodham Ferris 6 697.67x
Great Saling 5 1136.36x
Inworth 5 617.28x
Mildenhall 5 103.95x
Wormingford 5 819.67x
Colchester St Martin 4 298.51x
Dovercourt 4 155.04x
Holy Trinity 4 4.52x
Maldon St Peter 4 106.95x
Paddington London 4 2.93x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 6.71x
Sandon 4 677.97x
Witham 4 105.82x
Colchester St Mary At 3 115.38x
Islington London 3 0.83x
Luton 3 9.01x
Sudbury St Peter 3 120.97x
West Mersea 3 212.77x
Westminster St John 3 6.63x
Charmouth 2 250.00x
Chigwell 2 28.90x
Christchurch 2 24.07x
Cressing 2 289.86x
Fulham London 2 3.71x
Halstead 2 23.36x
Lambeth 2 0.62x
Rayleigh 2 118.34x
Shoreditch London 2 1.24x
Tolleshunt D Arcy 2 192.31x
Wargrave 2 83.33x
Bocking 1 22.68x
Bures St Mary 1 90.91x
Buttsbury 1 172.41x
Colchester St Botolph 1 16.03x
Colchester St James 1 33.67x
Croydon 1 0.99x
Dedham 1 44.84x
Dudley 1 1.69x
Epping 1 33.56x
Finchingfield 1 43.48x
Frimley 1 19.38x
Great Burstead 1 37.45x
Hampstead London 1 1.73x
Hornsey 1 2.13x
Ipswich St Helen 1 18.62x
Ipswich St Lawrence 1 163.93x
Ludlow St Lawrence 1 15.65x
North Ockendon 1 238.10x
St Pancras London 1 0.33x
Stock 1 128.21x
Whitton 1 125.00x
Woodham Walter 1 149.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Eliza 13
Emma 13
Sarah 11
Alice 10
Elizabeth 9
Ann 8
Ellen 8
Jane 7
Emily 6
Annie 5
Harriet 5
Kate 4
Agnes 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Louisa 3
Matilda 3
Sophia 3
Charlotte 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Julia 2
Lucy 2
Maud 2
Amy 1
Anna 1
Anne 1
Arminter 1
Ason 1
Blanche 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elenor 1
Eliz.Ellen 1
Elizath 1
Elizebeth 1
Emmeline 1
Gorgina 1
Harriett 1
Hy. 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lewis 1
Lillian 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Lottie 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 25
George 16
John 16
Charles 10
James 10
Henry 9
Alfred 8
Arthur 8
Edward 7
Joseph 7
David 5
Frederick 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Francis 4
Fredk. 4
Thomas 4
Ernest 3
Robert 3
Fredrick 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Leonard 2
Stephen 2
Annie 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
E. 1
Earnest 1
Edwin 1
Elizabeth 1
Frampton 1
Frank 1
Hy. 1
Isaac 1
Jno. 1
Louis 1
Orithea 1
Philip 1
Samuel 1
Simon 1
Steven 1
Sydney 1
Wilie 1
Wilm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Sach surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sach surname in 1881?

In 1881, 382 people were recorded with the Sach surname. That placed it at #8,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sach surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 573 in 2016. That gives Sach a modern rank of #9,014.

What does the Sach surname mean?

A surname derived from the German word "Sache" meaning "thing" or "object".

What does the Sach map show?

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