NameCensus.

UK surname

Sacks

An English occupational surname referring to someone who made or sold sacks or bags.

In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the Sacks surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 222, ranked #18,277, up from #29,793 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rudgwick, London parishes and Paddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bury, Leeds and Rossendale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sacks is 248 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 722.2%.

1881 census count

27

Ranked #29,793

Modern count

222

2016, ranked #18,277

Peak year

2000

248 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sacks had 27 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,793 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 222 in 2016, ranked #18,277.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 128 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Sacks surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sacks surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sacks 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 18 #30,094
1861 historical 31 #30,058
1881 historical 27 #29,793
1891 historical 58 #29,439
1901 historical 83 #24,900
1911 historical 128 #19,664
1997 modern 219 #16,666
1998 modern 236 #16,304
1999 modern 225 #16,931
2000 modern 248 #15,827
2001 modern 243 #15,791
2002 modern 243 #16,147
2003 modern 237 #16,191
2004 modern 233 #16,471
2005 modern 221 #17,028
2006 modern 205 #18,005
2007 modern 211 #17,856
2008 modern 221 #17,495
2009 modern 218 #18,015
2010 modern 227 #17,895
2011 modern 224 #17,891
2012 modern 238 #17,092
2013 modern 234 #17,556
2014 modern 224 #18,202
2015 modern 218 #18,478
2016 modern 222 #18,277

Geography

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Where Sacks' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rudgwick, London parishes, Paddington, St Pancras and Eccles. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bury, Leeds, Rossendale, Barnet and Westminster. 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 Rudgwick Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 Paddington London (West Districts)
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Eccles Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bury 019 Bury
2 Leeds 015 Leeds
3 Rossendale 001 Rossendale
4 Barnet 037 Barnet
5 Westminster 011 Westminster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sacks

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sacks

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Sacks surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Sacks household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Sacks is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sacks 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

Sacks falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sacks is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 40-50 mbit/s.

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

7
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Sacks

The surname Sacks has its origins in the medieval German language. It is derived from the Middle High German word "sac," which means a sack or bag. This suggests that the name may have been initially an occupational surname for someone who made or sold sacks.

The name Sacks is believed to have first appeared in records in the late 13th century in the region of Bavaria, Germany. It was likely used to identify individuals by their trade or occupation, which was a common practice during that time period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sacks surname can be found in the Nuremberg Chronicles, a 16th-century world history book published in 1493. The book mentions a merchant named Hans Sacks, who lived in the city of Nuremberg in the late 15th century.

Another notable individual with the Sacks surname was Johann Baptist Sacks, a German composer and organist who lived from 1748 to 1794. He was known for his works for the organ and was highly regarded in his time.

In the 19th century, the surname Sacks was associated with several notable figures. One of them was Moses Sacks, a German-born merchant and philanthropist who lived from 1828 to 1909. He made significant contributions to various charitable causes in London, where he lived and worked.

The Sacks surname has also been linked to several place names in Germany, such as Sackingen and Sackrau. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in different regions.

Throughout history, the Sacks surname has been recorded with various spellings, including Sachs, Sax, and Sax. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and preferences in spelling and pronunciation.

Other individuals with the Sacks surname who have made notable contributions include Sir Jonathan Sacks, a British philosopher and rabbi who served as the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 to 2013, and Oliver Sacks, a British neurologist and author who wrote several acclaimed books about his experiences with patients, including "The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sacks families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sacks 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. Middlesex leads with 8 Sacks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.04x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 8 3.04x
Sussex 7 15.77x
Yorkshire 4 1.53x
Lancashire 3 0.96x
Kent 2 2.23x
Lanarkshire 2 2.35x
Somerset 1 2.36x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Pancras London in Middlesex leads with 5 Sacks' recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.60x.

Place Total Index
St Pancras London 5 23.60x
Bradford 4 63.39x
Rudgwick 4 4000.00x
Toxteth Park 3 28.36x
Charlton Next Woolwich 2 212.77x
Govan 2 9.50x
Lower Beeding 2 1666.67x
Paddington London 2 20.66x
Bedminster 1 25.13x
Horsham 1 116.28x
Islington London 1 3.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Charlotte 2
Elizabeth 2
Mary 2
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Florence 1
Hannah 1
Jane 1
Kate 1
Mgry.E. 1
Minna 1
Sofia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 2
Albert 1
Charles 1
Hans 1
Harry 1
James 1
Michael 1
Oscar 1
Sydney 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Sacks households.

FAQ

Sacks surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sacks surname in 1881?

In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the Sacks surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sacks surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 222 in 2016. That gives Sacks a modern rank of #18,277.

What does the Sacks surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who made or sold sacks or bags.

What does the Sacks map show?

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