NameCensus.

UK surname

Sales

An occupational surname referring to a person who sold goods, often a traveling merchant or trader.

In the 1881 census there were 1,827 people recorded with the Sales surname, ranking it #2,380 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,517, ranked #2,627, down from #2,380 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tunbridge, Bidborough, Leek and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands, Lerwick North and Tonbridge and Malling.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sales is 2,747 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.8%.

1881 census count

1,827

Ranked #2,380

Modern count

2,517

2016, ranked #2,627

Peak year

1999

2,747 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sales had 1,827 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,380 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,517 in 2016, ranked #2,627.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,594 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Sales surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sales surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sales 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 931 #2,969
1861 historical 925 #3,001
1881 historical 1,827 #2,380
1891 historical 1,992 #2,313
1901 historical 2,311 #2,353
1911 historical 2,594 #1,976
1997 modern 2,646 #2,407
1998 modern 2,744 #2,417
1999 modern 2,747 #2,431
2000 modern 2,701 #2,458
2001 modern 2,649 #2,449
2002 modern 2,708 #2,448
2003 modern 2,657 #2,443
2004 modern 2,636 #2,458
2005 modern 2,534 #2,517
2006 modern 2,557 #2,493
2007 modern 2,562 #2,515
2008 modern 2,552 #2,536
2009 modern 2,609 #2,554
2010 modern 2,663 #2,556
2011 modern 2,618 #2,564
2012 modern 2,515 #2,612
2013 modern 2,533 #2,636
2014 modern 2,579 #2,603
2015 modern 2,526 #2,633
2016 modern 2,517 #2,627

Geography

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Where Sales' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tunbridge, Bidborough, Leek, London parishes, Lambeth and Beckenham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands, Lerwick North and Tonbridge and Malling. 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 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
2 Leek Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Beckenham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 005 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Staffordshire Moorlands 001 Staffordshire Moorlands
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 010 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 Lerwick North Shetland Islands
5 Tonbridge and Malling 006 Tonbridge and Malling

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sales

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sales

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sales, 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 Sales surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Sales 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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Sales is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Sales 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

Sales falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sales is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Sales

The surname SALES is believed to have originated in Spain during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Spanish word "sal," which means salt, suggesting a connection to the salt trade or salt production industry. The name may have been given to those who worked in salt mining or transportation.

One of the earliest known records of the SALES surname can be found in the Census of Aragon from the 14th century, where individuals with this surname were listed as residents of various towns and villages in the region. The name also appears in other historical documents from Spain, such as the Repartimiento de Sevilla, a record of land distribution in Seville after its conquest in 1248.

In the 15th century, the SALES surname spread to other parts of Europe, particularly Italy and France, where variations like "Salis" and "Salez" emerged. During this time, the name was associated with merchants and traders involved in the lucrative salt trade across the Mediterranean.

One notable figure with the SALES surname was Pedro de Sales (1512-1592), a Spanish theologian and writer who served as the Bishop of Geneva. He played a significant role in the Counter-Reformation and was known for his efforts to promote religious education.

Another prominent individual was St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622), a French priest and Bishop of Geneva. He is recognized as a Doctor of the Church and is renowned for his writings on spiritual guidance and devotion, including the widely read book "Introduction to the Devout Life."

In the 17th century, the SALES surname appeared in England, likely brought by Spanish or French immigrants. One early record is that of John Sales (1616-1679), an English writer and philosopher who published works on mathematics and natural philosophy.

During the 18th century, the SALES name was found in various parts of Europe and the Americas, as migration and exploration expanded. Notable figures include Juan José de Sales (1713-1776), a Spanish naval officer and explorer who led expeditions to the Pacific Northwest coast of North America.

In the 19th century, the SALES surname continued to spread globally, with individuals bearing this name making contributions in various fields. For example, Francisco Acuña de Figueroa y Sales (1791-1862) was a Uruguayan military leader and politician who played a crucial role in the formation of the nation.

Throughout history, the SALES surname has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions, reflecting the global reach and influence of this name rooted in the salt trade of medieval Spain.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sales families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sales 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. Kent leads with 522 Sales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.58x.

County Total Index
Kent 522 8.58x
Surrey 336 3.87x
Middlesex 235 1.32x
Yorkshire 158 0.89x
Sussex 114 3.79x
Norfolk 88 3.21x
Derbyshire 73 2.62x
Staffordshire 72 1.20x
Nottinghamshire 42 1.75x
Lincolnshire 29 1.02x
Essex 25 0.71x
Lancashire 23 0.11x
Hampshire 21 0.57x
Berkshire 10 0.75x
Cheshire 10 0.25x
Banffshire 9 2.43x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.65x
Huntingdonshire 7 1.98x
Northumberland 6 0.23x
Suffolk 6 0.28x
Cumberland 5 0.33x
Durham 5 0.09x
Devon 4 0.11x
Lanarkshire 4 0.07x
Northamptonshire 4 0.24x
Warwickshire 4 0.09x
Leicestershire 3 0.15x
Cornwall 1 0.05x
Hertfordshire 1 0.08x
Oxfordshire 1 0.09x
Renfrewshire 1 0.07x
Roxburghshire 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lambeth in Surrey leads with 51 Sales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.28x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 51 3.28x
Tonbridge 49 22.34x
Croydon 46 9.54x
Yalding 45 292.97x
Lewisham 40 12.34x
Leek Lowe 37 46.23x
Camberwell 32 2.81x
Warlingham 27 382.98x
Hackney London 26 2.60x
Dartford 23 36.99x
Frant 23 108.03x
St Marylebone London 23 2.42x
Sevenoaks 22 44.62x
Deptford St Paul 21 4.48x
Oxted 21 200.76x
Aylesford 20 118.69x
Battersea 19 2.90x
Holy Trinity 18 4.24x
Stoke Upon Trent 18 2.82x
Westerham 18 128.30x
Bermondsey 17 3.20x
Islington London 17 0.98x
Woolwich 17 7.57x
Bolsover 16 114.37x
Charlton Next Woolwich 16 25.23x
Edenbridge 16 134.12x
Newington 16 2.43x
Rotherham 16 16.07x
Streatham 16 12.10x
Wateringbury 16 201.51x
Beckenham 15 18.87x
Church Gresley 15 33.79x
Downe 15 445.10x
Shoreditch London 15 1.94x
Lingfield 14 82.74x
Reedham 14 267.18x
Speldhurst 14 45.22x
Bethnal Green London 13 1.68x
Mile End Old Town 13 4.62x
Rotherfield 13 49.13x
Sculcoates 13 4.64x
Hastings St Leonards 12 27.17x
Nottingham St Mary 12 1.93x
Seal 12 122.20x
Sundridge 12 118.34x
Chichester St Andrew 11 352.56x
Kensington London 11 1.11x
Nuthall 11 122.09x
Orpington 11 59.08x
Paddington London 11 1.68x
St Pancras London 11 0.77x
Bromley 10 10.79x
Burham 10 119.19x
Lewes St John Southover 10 49.55x
Rotherhithe 10 4.54x
Southwark St Saviour 10 10.92x
St Luke London 10 3.50x
Wimbledon 10 10.26x
Barnby On Don 9 267.06x
Gamrie 9 21.81x
Hornsey 9 3.99x
Norwich St Augustine 9 81.45x
Otham 9 393.01x
Unstone 9 82.04x
Withyam 9 69.98x
Bromley London 8 2.04x
Carlton 8 29.19x
Erith 8 13.35x
Goole 8 27.04x
Hammersmith London 8 1.82x
Hartfield 8 84.21x
Limpenhoe 8 661.16x
Sharlston 8 69.03x
Sutton At Hone 8 63.39x
Titchfield 8 29.06x
Tupton 8 95.35x
West Malling 8 58.44x
Earley 7 31.40x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 7 17.47x
Staveley 7 14.13x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 91
Elizabeth 68
Sarah 54
Eliza 34
Emily 34
Annie 33
Ann 32
Alice 29
Harriet 25
Jane 25
Ellen 23
Edith 22
Emma 21
Louisa 17
Kate 15
Martha 14
Clara 13
Caroline 11
Harriett 11
Maria 11
Florence 10
Ada 9
Hannah 9
Rebecca 9
Amy 8
Charlotte 8
Frances 8
Lucy 8
Rose 8
Agnes 7
Fanny 7
Lydia 7
Sophia 7
Anne 6
Lily 6
Matilda 6
Susan 6
Susannah 6
Amelia 5
Bertha 5
Eleanor 5
Margaret 5
Elizth. 4
Flora 4
Helen 4
Isabella 4
Jemima 4
Minnie 4
Nellie 4
Catherine 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 102
John 84
George 71
Henry 59
Thomas 59
James 46
Charles 44
Frederick 30
Edward 27
Walter 27
Joseph 26
Alfred 25
Richard 19
Samuel 18
Albert 17
Arthur 17
Harry 17
Ernest 12
Frank 11
Herbert 11
Wm. 10
Robert 9
Edwin 8
Benjamin 6
Francis 6
Fred 6
Jesse 6
Amos 5
Stephen 5
Frederic 4
Geo. 4
Christopher 3
Daniel 3
David 3
Edgar 3
Fred. 3
Fredrick 3
Abraham 2
Hedley 2
Henery 2
Jacob 2
Job 2
Leonard 2
Louis 2
Mark 2
Michael 2
Sam 2
Saml. 2
Timothy 2
Tom 2

FAQ

Sales surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sales surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,827 people were recorded with the Sales surname. That placed it at #2,380 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sales surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,517 in 2016. That gives Sales a modern rank of #2,627.

What does the Sales surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who sold goods, often a traveling merchant or trader.

What does the Sales map show?

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