NameCensus.

UK surname

Safe

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "safe", indicating a person who was secure, trustworthy, or perhaps worked as a locksmith.

In the 1881 census there were 115 people recorded with the Safe surname, ranking it #18,230 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 188, ranked #20,417, down from #18,230 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Salisbury St Edmund, London parishes and St Martin. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire and Cheltenham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Safe is 188 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 63.5%.

1881 census count

115

Ranked #18,230

Modern count

188

2016, ranked #20,417

Peak year

2016

188 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Safe had 115 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,230 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 188 in 2016, ranked #20,417.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 137 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities.

Safe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Safe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Safe 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 78 #19,840
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 115 #18,230
1891 historical 116 #21,766
1901 historical 107 #21,955
1911 historical 137 #18,880
1997 modern 162 #20,107
1998 modern 176 #19,584
1999 modern 168 #20,312
2000 modern 172 #19,974
2001 modern 168 #19,986
2002 modern 176 #19,829
2003 modern 181 #19,277
2004 modern 169 #20,206
2005 modern 174 #19,783
2006 modern 171 #20,131
2007 modern 180 #19,745
2008 modern 175 #20,311
2009 modern 180 #20,341
2010 modern 182 #20,662
2011 modern 179 #20,732
2012 modern 172 #21,219
2013 modern 182 #20,795
2014 modern 184 #20,809
2015 modern 184 #20,719
2016 modern 188 #20,417

Geography

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Where Safes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Salisbury St Edmund, London parishes, St Martin, Cheltenham and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire and Cheltenham. 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 Salisbury St Edmund Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Martin Wiltshire
4 Cheltenham Gloucestershire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 051 Wiltshire
2 Wiltshire 053 Wiltshire
3 Wiltshire 056 Wiltshire
4 Cheltenham 013 Cheltenham
5 Wiltshire 058 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Safe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Safe

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

Legacy Industrial and Coastal Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Single-person households are common in these neighbourhoods, and these residents are typically divorced rather than never married. A high proportion of residents were born outside the UK in the EU. There are many young adults, some with young children, but relatively few residents are of normal retirement age or over. Although levels of identification with ethnic minorities are in line with the Supergroup average, individuals identifying with Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is more common than average. High long-term disability rates are observed, and unpaid care is more common than in the rest of the Group. The predominant housing types are terraced houses and flats, which are typically part of the social rented sector. This Group is commonly found in coastal areas and (present-day or former) industrial 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, Safe 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

Safe is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Safe 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 Safe 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 Safe, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Safe

The surname SAFE has its origins in medieval Germany, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old German word "saf," meaning "sap" or "juice," potentially referring to someone who lived near a grove of sap-producing trees.

In its early days, the name was commonly spelled as "Saf" or "Saff," and it appeared in various town records and tax registers across the regions of Bavaria and Saxony. One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing this name was Hans Saf, a landowner from the village of Rothenburg ob der Tauber in the year 1327.

By the 15th century, the name had evolved into its current spelling of "SAFE" as it spread across different parts of Germany. In 1492, a merchant named Johann SAFE was documented in the city of Nuremberg, where he operated a successful trade in spices and textiles.

The SAFE name gained prominence in the 16th century with the rise of Martin SAFE (1524-1594), a renowned theologian and reformer who played a significant role in the Protestant Reformation. His writings and teachings had a lasting impact on religious thought and practice in central Europe.

During the 17th century, the SAFE surname found its way to the New World through various waves of German immigration. One notable figure was Johannes SAFE (1635-1701), a farmer who settled in the Dutch colony of New Netherland, now known as New York, in 1659.

Another individual of note was Anna SAFE (1712-1786), a prominent businesswoman and landowner in the German state of Hesse. Her successful management of her family's estates and businesses earned her widespread respect and recognition.

In the 19th century, the SAFE name gained further recognition with the achievements of Johann Friedrich SAFE (1805-1873), a pioneering architect and engineer who designed several iconic buildings and bridges across Germany and Austria.

Throughout its history, the SAFE surname has been associated with various occupations, including farmers, merchants, theologians, architects, and entrepreneurs, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who have borne this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Safe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Safe 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 31 Safes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.74x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 31 2.74x
Wiltshire 28 27.98x
Worcestershire 19 12.86x
Northumberland 9 5.35x
Devon 6 2.55x
Surrey 6 1.09x
Hampshire 4 1.72x
Sussex 4 2.10x
Gloucestershire 3 1.35x
Essex 2 0.90x
Dumfriesshire 1 4.00x
Lancashire 1 0.07x
Royal Navy 1 7.42x
Somerset 1 0.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldbury in Worcestershire leads with 19 Safes recorded in 1881 and an index of 261.35x.

Place Total Index
Oldbury 19 261.35x
Salisbury St Martin 16 1538.46x
Chelsea London 12 35.20x
Milford 9 1666.67x
Tynemouth 9 99.78x
Islington London 8 7.29x
St Marylebone London 6 9.93x
Stokeinteignhead 6 2400.00x
Lambeth 5 5.07x
Brighton 3 7.79x
Salisbury St Edmund 3 186.34x
Bishopstoke 2 333.33x
Hornsey 2 13.98x
Leckhampton 2 145.99x
Andover 1 45.66x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 13.51x
Colchester St Botolph 1 52.63x
Durrisdeer 1 232.56x
Hove 1 11.95x
Nailsea 1 138.89x
Newington 1 2.39x
Penton Grafton 1 555.56x
Preston 1 2.78x
Royal Navy 1 8.67x
St George In East 1 12.99x
West Ham 1 2.03x
Westminster St 1 23.98x
Willesden 1 9.37x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Safe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Safe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 115 people were recorded with the Safe surname. That placed it at #18,230 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Safe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 188 in 2016. That gives Safe a modern rank of #20,417.

What does the Safe surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Middle English word "safe", indicating a person who was secure, trustworthy, or perhaps worked as a locksmith.

What does the Safe map show?

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