NameCensus.

UK surname

Saltmarsh

An English surname derived from a salt marsh or wetland region.

In the 1881 census there were 389 people recorded with the Saltmarsh surname, ranking it #8,122 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 419, ranked #11,445, down from #8,122 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Edmonton, Tunbridge, Bidborough and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Doncaster, County Durham and Forest Heath.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Saltmarsh is 491 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.7%.

1881 census count

389

Ranked #8,122

Modern count

419

2016, ranked #11,445

Peak year

1911

491 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Saltmarsh had 389 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,122 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 419 in 2016, ranked #11,445.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 491 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Saltmarsh surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Saltmarsh surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Saltmarsh 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 202 #10,323
1861 historical 214 #11,365
1881 historical 389 #8,122
1891 historical 398 #8,910
1901 historical 443 #8,804
1911 historical 491 #7,928
1997 modern 479 #9,615
1998 modern 484 #9,841
1999 modern 476 #10,026
2000 modern 467 #10,144
2001 modern 461 #10,049
2002 modern 487 #9,820
2003 modern 472 #9,889
2004 modern 470 #9,958
2005 modern 455 #10,126
2006 modern 457 #10,127
2007 modern 462 #10,143
2008 modern 459 #10,265
2009 modern 449 #10,690
2010 modern 455 #10,802
2011 modern 440 #10,977
2012 modern 432 #11,015
2013 modern 434 #11,158
2014 modern 429 #11,347
2015 modern 418 #11,516
2016 modern 419 #11,445

Geography

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Where Saltmarshs are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Edmonton, Tunbridge, Bidborough, London parishes, Brighton and Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Doncaster, County Durham, Forest Heath and Torridge. 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 Edmonton Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts)
2 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
3 London parishes London 3
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Doncaster 002 Doncaster
2 County Durham 064 County Durham
3 Forest Heath 005 Forest Heath
4 Torridge 005 Torridge
5 County Durham 007 County Durham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Saltmarsh

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Saltmarsh

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Saltmarsh surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Saltmarsh 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Saltmarsh 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

Saltmarsh is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Saltmarsh 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 Saltmarsh 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Saltmarsh

The surname Saltmarsh is an English locational name derived from places of the same spelling, such as Saltmarsh in Hampshire and Saltmarsh in Worcestershire. The name is composed of the Middle English elements "salt" meaning the mineral salt and "mersh" meaning marsh or wetland, indicating a salty or brackish marsh area.

Saltmarsh is an ancient surname that can be traced back to the late 12th century. One of the earliest recorded examples is that of William de Saltemersh, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Hampshire in 1194. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as Saltemersh, Saltemershe, and Saltemersche, reflecting the different spellings and pronunciations of the time. For instance, the Hundred Rolls of 1273 mention a William Saltemersh from Worcestershire.

The Saltmarsh name is also associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One such individual was John Saltmarsh (1612-1647), an English writer and prominent Antinomian during the Puritan era. He was a staunch advocate of religious freedom and wrote several influential works, including "Sparkles of Glory" and "Free Grace, or The Flowings of Christ's Blood."

Another notable figure was Philip Saltmarsh (1594-1670), an English clergyman and religious writer. He was a member of the Westminster Assembly and authored several theological treatises, including "The Smoaking Furnace" and "Free Grace Defended and Reverenced."

In the 18th century, Thomas Saltmarsh (1736-1810) was a prominent British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He achieved the rank of Admiral and was known for his bravery and leadership in several naval battles.

The name Saltmarsh has also been associated with places and landmarks. For example, Saltmarsh is a small village in Gloucestershire, England, and there is a Saltmarsh Cottage in the village of Burmarsh, Kent, which dates back to the 16th century.

While the Saltmarsh surname is relatively uncommon, it has a rich history rooted in the English countryside and has been borne by several notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Saltmarsh families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Saltmarsh 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 133 Saltmarshs recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.76x.

County Total Index
Essex 133 17.76x
Middlesex 87 2.29x
Kent 32 2.47x
Surrey 27 1.46x
Yorkshire 24 0.64x
Sussex 23 3.60x
Hertfordshire 22 8.41x
Devon 9 1.14x
Hampshire 8 1.03x
Lancashire 8 0.18x
Oxfordshire 6 2.56x
Staffordshire 3 0.23x
Durham 2 0.18x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.42x
Lincolnshire 1 0.16x
Northamptonshire 1 0.28x
Shropshire 1 0.31x
Wiltshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chelmsford in Essex leads with 45 Saltmarshs recorded in 1881 and an index of 350.19x.

Place Total Index
Chelmsford 45 350.19x
Tonbridge 16 34.26x
Hornsey 15 31.26x
Mile End Old Town 15 25.04x
West Ham 14 8.47x
Bishop Stortford 13 148.74x
Brighton 12 9.30x
Latchingdon Snoreham 12 1690.14x
Battersea 10 7.16x
Lambeth 10 3.02x
Bow London 9 18.63x
Deptford St Paul 9 9.01x
Tottenham 9 14.89x
Dagenham 8 179.37x
Hurstpierpoint 8 224.72x
Little Hallingbury 8 1052.63x
Shoreditch London 8 4.86x
Widford 8 2051.28x
Little Burstead 7 2692.31x
Liverpool 7 2.56x
Plymouth Charles The 7 20.11x
Ratcliffe London 7 33.40x
Great Hallingbury 6 731.71x
Huddleston Cum Lumby 6 1935.48x
Maldon All Sts 6 405.41x
Tunstall In Richmond 6 1875.00x
Witney 6 153.06x
Berkhampstead 5 85.03x
Edmonton 5 16.36x
Hatfield Broad Oak 5 197.63x
White Roothing 5 909.09x
Paddington London 4 2.87x
Portsea 4 2.62x
Ashford 3 23.79x
East Stamford Bridge 3 576.92x
Preston 3 26.86x
Selby 3 38.17x
Skelton In Howden 3 1000.00x
St Marylebone London 3 1.48x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 2.21x
Camberwell 2 0.83x
Chelsea London 2 1.75x
Fulham London 2 3.63x
Great Amwell 2 76.34x
Hackney London 2 0.94x
High Easter 2 192.31x
Lynesack Softley 2 65.57x
Rainham 2 122.70x
Southwark St Olave 2 68.97x
Stoke Damerel 2 3.62x
Wilberfoss 2 370.37x
Aldershot 1 3.84x
Alverstoke 1 3.55x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.02x
Brackley St James 1 121.95x
Brentwood 1 21.88x
Canterbury St Mary 1 11.51x
Canterbury St Mildred 1 32.57x
Carisbrooke 1 9.26x
Cheriton 1 18.94x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.12x
Croydon 1 0.97x
Kensington London 1 0.47x
Maidstone 1 2.59x
Merton 1 30.86x
Newington 1 0.71x
Purleigh 1 89.29x
Sawbridgeworth 1 25.25x
Shrewsbury St Alkmond 1 54.95x
South Hayling 1 72.46x
St George Hanover 1 2.02x
St Michael Cambridge 1 142.86x
St Pancras London 1 0.33x
St Stephen Coleman 1 99.01x
Swindon 1 3.84x
Theydon Garnon 1 58.48x
Westminster St James 1 2.56x
Wrawby 1 60.98x
Writtle 1 32.68x
York St Lawrence 1 25.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Sarah 23
Elizabeth 15
Mary 14
Emily 11
Alice 9
Eliza 9
Louisa 9
Jane 8
Annie 7
Caroline 6
Harriet 6
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Ada 3
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Bessie 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Kate 3
Maria 3
Martha 3
Ann 2
Clara 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Minnie 2
Nellie 2
Rebecca 2
Susanah 2
Susannah 2
Anne 1
Constance 1
Cordelia 1
Elinor 1
Elise 1
Eliz.E. 1
Elizbth. 1
Ella 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Katie 1
Kezia 1
Laura 1
Lucy 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Milly 1
Torerinear 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 18
William 18
Edward 16
John 16
Henry 13
Charles 12
James 10
Samuel 7
Walter 7
Frederick 5
Alfred 4
Harry 4
Joseph 4
Thomas 4
Arthur 3
Chas. 3
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Richard 3
Albert 2
Benjamin 2
Hugh 2
Mark 2
Oswald 2
Alexander 1
Andrew 1
Berty 1
Castin 1
Cecil 1
Charley 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fread 1
Frederic 1
Gerald 1
J. 1
Jas. 1
Kenneth 1
Norman 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Richd. 1
Thos.Joseph 1
Tom 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Saltmarsh surname: questions and answers

How common was the Saltmarsh surname in 1881?

In 1881, 389 people were recorded with the Saltmarsh surname. That placed it at #8,122 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Saltmarsh surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 419 in 2016. That gives Saltmarsh a modern rank of #11,445.

What does the Saltmarsh surname mean?

An English surname derived from a salt marsh or wetland region.

What does the Saltmarsh map show?

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