NameCensus.

UK surname

Sagar

A surname meaning "ocean" or "sea" in various Indian languages.

In the 1881 census there were 1,218 people recorded with the Sagar surname, ranking it #3,320 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,555, ranked #3,983, down from #3,320 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Bradford and Whalley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rossendale, Burnley and Bradford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sagar is 1,695 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 27.7%.

1881 census count

1,218

Ranked #3,320

Modern count

1,555

2016, ranked #3,983

Peak year

1911

1,695 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sagar had 1,218 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,320 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,555 in 2016, ranked #3,983.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,695 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Sagar surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sagar surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sagar 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 624 #4,149
1861 historical 531 #4,945
1881 historical 1,218 #3,320
1891 historical 1,278 #3,385
1901 historical 1,639 #3,149
1911 historical 1,695 #2,896
1997 modern 1,358 #4,236
1998 modern 1,404 #4,265
1999 modern 1,439 #4,212
2000 modern 1,426 #4,232
2001 modern 1,394 #4,236
2002 modern 1,445 #4,191
2003 modern 1,464 #4,078
2004 modern 1,475 #4,059
2005 modern 1,467 #4,031
2006 modern 1,469 #4,039
2007 modern 1,482 #4,048
2008 modern 1,480 #4,081
2009 modern 1,514 #4,084
2010 modern 1,558 #4,058
2011 modern 1,564 #3,998
2012 modern 1,499 #4,089
2013 modern 1,566 #3,990
2014 modern 1,578 #3,985
2015 modern 1,563 #3,978
2016 modern 1,555 #3,983

Geography

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Where Sagars are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Bradford, Whalley and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rossendale, Burnley, Bradford and Barnsley. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Whalley Lancashire
4 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rossendale 010 Rossendale
2 Burnley 001 Burnley
3 Rossendale 003 Rossendale
4 Bradford 027 Bradford
5 Barnsley 014 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sagar

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sagar

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Sagar is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sagar 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

Sagar 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 Sagar 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sagar

The surname SAGAR originates from India, with its roots traced back to the Sanskrit word "sagar," meaning "ocean" or "sea." This name is predominant among the Brahmin communities of northern and western India.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname SAGAR can be found in ancient Hindu scriptures and texts, where it was often used as a descriptive term or a title. One of the earliest known references is in the Puranas, a collection of Hindu mythological tales, where the name appears in connection with various deities and celestial beings.

During the medieval period, the SAGAR surname gained prominence among scholarly and literary circles. One notable figure was Abhinanda Sagar, a 13th-century Sanskrit poet and grammarian from Bengal. His works, including the "Rasika-Ramana," a treatise on poetics, were widely acclaimed and studied.

In the 16th century, the SAGAR surname appeared in historical records related to the Mughal Empire. Gokul Sagar, a Brahmin scholar from Varanasi, was a renowned astrologer and advisor to the Mughal emperor Akbar. His astrological insights and calculations were highly valued at the royal court.

During the British colonial era, several individuals with the SAGAR surname left their mark on Indian history. Swami Dayanand Saraswati, a renowned Hindu religious leader and social reformer, was born Mool Shankar Sagar in 1824 in Gujarat. He founded the Arya Samaj movement, which aimed to revive the ancient Vedic teachings and promote social reforms.

Another notable figure was Purushottam Sagar, a 19th-century Marathi poet and playwright from Maharashtra. His works, such as the epic poem "Pandava Pratap," were influential in shaping the Marathi literary landscape during the British Raj.

In more recent times, the SAGAR surname has continued to be associated with prominent personalities. Naresh Sagar, a celebrated Indian writer and journalist, was born in 1949 in Uttar Pradesh. His novels and short stories, exploring contemporary social issues, have garnered critical acclaim and numerous literary awards.

Throughout its history, the surname SAGAR has maintained a strong connection to its Sanskrit roots, reflecting a deep association with the ocean and its symbolic significance in Indian culture and mythology.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sagar families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sagar 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. Lancashire leads with 875 Sagars recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.22x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 875 6.22x
Yorkshire 256 2.18x
Durham 20 0.57x
Cumberland 18 1.76x
Middlesex 11 0.09x
Westmorland 10 3.84x
Cheshire 5 0.19x
Dumfriesshire 5 1.91x
Northumberland 5 0.28x
Derbyshire 2 0.11x
Midlothian 2 0.13x
Norfolk 2 0.11x
Warwickshire 2 0.07x
Gloucestershire 1 0.04x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Lincolnshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Habergham Eaves in Lancashire leads with 105 Sagars recorded in 1881 and an index of 81.62x.

Place Total Index
Habergham Eaves 105 81.62x
Blackburn 79 21.10x
Burnley 66 55.68x
Padiham 52 152.90x
Great Little Marsden 41 63.59x
Bradford 40 14.06x
Higher Booths 33 130.07x
Manningham 33 22.79x
Newchurch 32 27.79x
Clayton Le Moors 31 113.51x
Read 31 824.47x
Horton In Bradford 30 16.34x
Hapton 29 329.55x
Simonstone 26 1520.47x
Spotland 20 12.78x
Accrington 18 14.07x
Colne 17 40.54x
Foulridge 17 474.86x
Leeds 17 2.56x
Oswaldtwistle 17 34.18x
Whalley 17 82.89x
Worsbrough 17 49.36x
Higham With West Close 16 524.59x
Great Bolton 14 7.51x
Bingley 12 16.03x
Heptonstall 12 72.77x
Lower Booths 12 47.58x
Keighley 11 8.78x
North Meols 11 7.98x
Worsthorne Cum 11 246.09x
Bowling 10 8.59x
Hylton 10 160.77x
Nateby 10 1408.45x
Atherton 9 17.57x
Great Harwood 9 35.38x
Salford 9 2.17x
Cheetham 8 7.62x
Church 7 35.21x
Halifax 7 4.06x
Henheads 7 736.84x
Manchester 7 1.11x
Thornton In Craven 7 74.23x
Tottington Lower End 7 10.46x
Toxteth Park 7 1.47x
Ashton Under Lyne 6 1.95x
Barnoldswick 6 36.56x
East Rainton 6 87.85x
Ecclesfield 6 6.96x
Roughlee Booth 6 458.02x
Trawden 6 68.10x
Wakefield 6 6.65x
Blatchinworth 5 15.60x
Caldewgate 5 8.94x
Chadderton 5 7.27x
Gorton 5 3.78x
Haslingden 5 8.58x
Little Bolton 5 2.76x
Liverpool 5 0.58x
Middlebie 5 63.61x
Pendleton In Clitheroe 5 93.81x
St Cuthbert W O 5 10.04x
Todmorden Walsden 5 13.26x
Upper Hallam 5 48.97x
Westgate 5 4.57x
Clitheroe 4 9.65x
Eccleshill 4 13.98x
Layton With Warbreck 4 7.74x
Mile End New Town 4 24.69x
Newton 4 3.69x
Over Darwen 4 3.56x
Wingate 4 16.54x
Ainsworth 3 55.05x
Bradford 3 4.55x
Bury 3 1.87x
Cliviger 3 37.83x
Elton 3 6.17x
North Bierley 3 4.73x
Shipley 3 4.92x
St Giles Cripplegate 3 19.05x
Stansfield 3 6.93x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 103
William 78
James 65
Thomas 32
Robert 26
Richard 20
Henry 18
George 15
Joseph 15
Samuel 12
Arthur 11
Harry 11
Walter 10
Charles 9
Edward 9
Abraham 6
Alfred 6
Oates 6
Herbert 5
Albert 4
Edwin 4
Hartley 4
David 3
Ernest 3
Fred 3
Jonathan 3
Matthew 3
Robt. 3
Wm. 3
Benjamin 2
Benson 2
Edmund 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Howarth 2
Hugh 2
Job 2
Marshall 2
Martin 2
Nathan 2
Paul 2
R. 2
Seth 2
Sutcliffe 2
Thos. 2
Wright 2
Yates 2
Dick 1
Folds 1
Zebedee 1

FAQ

Sagar surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sagar surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,218 people were recorded with the Sagar surname. That placed it at #3,320 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sagar surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,555 in 2016. That gives Sagar a modern rank of #3,983.

What does the Sagar surname mean?

A surname meaning "ocean" or "sea" in various Indian languages.

What does the Sagar map show?

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