NameCensus.

UK surname

Samways

An English surname derived from an older form of "someway" meaning pathway.

In the 1881 census there were 869 people recorded with the Samways surname, ranking it #4,359 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,380, ranked #4,374, down from #4,359 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Poole St James, Symondsbury and Portsmouth, Portsea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Purbeck, Weymouth and Portland and West Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Samways is 1,476 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.8%.

1881 census count

869

Ranked #4,359

Modern count

1,380

2016, ranked #4,374

Peak year

2000

1,476 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Samways had 869 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,359 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,380 in 2016, ranked #4,374.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,265 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Samways surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Samways surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Samways 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 494 #5,061
1861 historical 563 #4,680
1881 historical 869 #4,359
1891 historical 984 #4,201
1901 historical 1,186 #4,134
1911 historical 1,265 #3,758
1997 modern 1,404 #4,132
1998 modern 1,460 #4,144
1999 modern 1,435 #4,217
2000 modern 1,476 #4,118
2001 modern 1,404 #4,208
2002 modern 1,413 #4,266
2003 modern 1,379 #4,269
2004 modern 1,394 #4,239
2005 modern 1,348 #4,314
2006 modern 1,319 #4,397
2007 modern 1,307 #4,463
2008 modern 1,310 #4,484
2009 modern 1,337 #4,499
2010 modern 1,367 #4,495
2011 modern 1,380 #4,410
2012 modern 1,357 #4,410
2013 modern 1,403 #4,363
2014 modern 1,405 #4,383
2015 modern 1,403 #4,348
2016 modern 1,380 #4,374

Geography

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Where Samways' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Poole St James, Symondsbury, Portsmouth, Portsea, Broadmayne and Melcombe Regis. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Purbeck, Weymouth and Portland, West Dorset and Poole. 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 Poole St James Dorset
2 Symondsbury Dorset
3 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire
4 Broadmayne Dorset
5 Melcombe Regis Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Purbeck 004 Purbeck
2 Weymouth and Portland 004 Weymouth and Portland
3 West Dorset 010 West Dorset
4 Poole 012 Poole
5 Purbeck 005 Purbeck

Forenames

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First names often paired with Samways

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Samways

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Samways, 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 Samways surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Samways 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Samways is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Samways is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Samways falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Samways 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 Samways, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Samways

The surname SAMWAYS is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval era. It is believed to have derived from a combination of the Old English words "sam" meaning "half" and "weg" meaning "way" or "path." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone living along a path or near a crossroads.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SAMWAYS name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from 1221, where it appears as "Samewey." This document provides evidence that the name was already in use during the early 13th century in the West Midlands region of England.

The SAMWAYS surname also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is listed as "Samewey." This record indicates that the name had spread to other parts of England by the late 13th century.

In the 14th century, a John SAMWAYS was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, dated 1348. This suggests that the name had established a presence in northern England by that time.

During the 16th century, the SAMWAYS name can be found in various parish records across England. Notable examples include the birth of William SAMWAYS in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1572 and the marriage of Thomas SAMWAYS and Anne Partridge in Cheltenham in 1589.

One of the earliest known bearers of the SAMWAYS name was Sir John SAMWAYS, a prominent English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Worcestershire in the late 16th century. He was born in 1550 and died in 1616.

Another notable figure was Robert SAMWAYS, an English clergyman and author who lived in the 17th century. He was born in 1602 and served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Islington, London. He published several works, including "The Practice of True Devotion" in 1656.

In the 18th century, the SAMWAYS surname was associated with the literary world through the writings of William SAMWAYS, an English poet and essayist born in 1732. He published several collections of poems and essays during his lifetime, before passing away in 1798.

The 19th century saw the rise of Sir Henry SAMWAYS, a prominent British businessman and philanthropist. Born in 1824, he founded the Samways & Company textile firm and was known for his charitable contributions to various educational institutions and hospitals. He died in 1902.

Another notable figure from this period was Mary SAMWAYS, a pioneering English educator who established one of the first schools for girls in London in the early 19th century. She was born in 1790 and played a significant role in advocating for the education of women during her time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Samways families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Samways 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. Dorset leads with 527 Samways' recorded in 1881 and an index of 94.72x.

County Total Index
Dorset 527 94.72x
Hampshire 117 6.73x
Somerset 74 5.42x
Sussex 23 1.61x
Staffordshire 19 0.66x
Middlesex 18 0.21x
Lincolnshire 14 1.03x
Kent 11 0.38x
Aberdeenshire 10 1.27x
Pembrokeshire 7 2.60x
Monmouthshire 6 0.98x
Surrey 6 0.15x
Worcestershire 6 0.54x
Rutland 5 8.03x
Shropshire 5 0.68x
Gloucestershire 4 0.24x
Derbyshire 3 0.23x
Essex 3 0.18x
Wiltshire 3 0.40x
Suffolk 2 0.19x
Berkshire 1 0.16x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.19x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.28x
Cornwall 1 0.10x
Devon 1 0.06x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Melcombe Regis in Dorset leads with 51 Samways' recorded in 1881 and an index of 221.16x.

Place Total Index
Melcombe Regis 51 221.16x
Wareham Holy Trinity 32 1316.87x
Symondsbury 31 875.71x
Loders 26 938.63x
Portsea 25 7.34x
Fareham 23 110.15x
Broadmayne 22 1476.51x
Maiden Newton 20 858.37x
Newcastle Under Lyme 17 33.58x
Buckland Newton 16 642.57x
Portisham 15 724.64x
Melbury Osmond 13 1150.44x
Hambledon 12 204.78x
Puddle Hinton 12 1043.48x
Winsham 12 481.93x
Winterborne Came 12 2857.14x
Alverstoke 11 17.49x
Swyre 11 1774.19x
Cattistock 10 649.35x
Chickerell 10 420.17x
Skinnand 10 9090.91x
West Knighton 10 1098.90x
Hollingbourn 9 269.46x
Milton Abbas 9 329.67x
Charlton Marshall 8 423.28x
Hastings St Leonards 8 38.08x
Longfleet 8 124.22x
Netherbury 8 173.91x
Odcombe 8 441.99x
Petworth 8 93.68x
Poole St James 8 38.28x
Puncknowle 8 583.94x
Toller Porcorum 8 620.16x
Wynford Eagle 8 1818.18x
Askerswell 7 1147.54x
Beaminster 7 113.27x
Charminster 7 158.01x
Chilcombe 7 5833.33x
Christchurch 7 18.58x
Merriott 7 175.44x
Misterton 7 360.82x
Stackpole Elidor 7 813.95x
West Lulworth 7 714.29x
Wraxall 7 2500.00x
Allington 6 120.97x
Blandford Forum 6 54.64x
Brimpton 6 1875.00x
Chiselborough 6 571.43x
Fleet 6 1500.00x
Gillingham 6 62.76x
Mynyddyslwyn 6 24.82x
Preston 6 295.57x
Steep 6 344.83x
Wayford 6 923.08x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 5 3.40x
Burton Bradstock 5 181.82x
Caldecott 5 581.40x
Catherington 5 130.21x
Frampton 5 409.84x
Kinson 5 46.00x
Middle Chinnock 5 1136.36x
Newhills 5 31.09x
Parkstone 5 77.04x
Puddletrenthide 5 230.41x
Titchfield 5 38.17x
W Felton 5 160.77x
Weymouth 5 47.44x
Bridport 4 34.93x
Charlton Musgrove 4 336.13x
Dorchester All Sts 4 150.38x
Farlington 4 112.68x
Frome St Quintin 4 727.27x
Hackney London 4 0.84x
Hartlebury 4 60.70x
Morden 4 169.49x
Over Compton 4 952.38x
Reigate Foreign 4 8.94x
South Stoneham 4 10.61x
Southampton St Mary 4 3.66x
St Mary Magdalen Lincoln 4 220.99x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 52
Sarah 32
Elizabeth 26
Annie 20
Alice 18
Eliza 18
Jane 17
Fanny 14
Emily 13
Emma 13
Louisa 13
Ann 12
Susan 12
Charlotte 10
Kate 9
Ellen 8
Harriet 8
Martha 8
Bessie 7
Harriett 7
Edith 6
Amelia 5
Anne 5
Ada 4
Agnes 4
Hannah 4
Lucy 4
Rosa 4
Frances 3
Julia 3
Maria 3
Minnie 3
Rebecca 3
Rhoda 3
Amy 2
Anna 2
Catherine 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Florence 2
Francis 2
Georgina 2
Grace 2
Jessie 2
Lilly 2
Lily 2
Marion 2
Matilda 2
Rose 2
Sabina 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 54
William 54
John 30
James 27
Henry 21
Thomas 21
Albert 12
Charles 12
Frederick 11
Alfred 10
Edward 9
Joseph 9
Robert 9
Samuel 9
Walter 9
Harry 7
Richard 5
Benjamin 4
Fred 4
Arthur 3
Christopher 3
David 3
Eli 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Fredk. 3
Herbert 3
Jesse 3
Levi 3
Mark 3
Peter 3
Stephen 3
Tom 3
Ben 2
Bernard 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Job 2
Sydney 2
Uriah 2
Wm. 2
Beetram 1
Chas. 1
Dan 1
Daniel 1
Jonas 1
Louis 1
Luke 1

FAQ

Samways surname: questions and answers

How common was the Samways surname in 1881?

In 1881, 869 people were recorded with the Samways surname. That placed it at #4,359 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Samways surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,380 in 2016. That gives Samways a modern rank of #4,374.

What does the Samways surname mean?

An English surname derived from an older form of "someway" meaning pathway.

What does the Samways map show?

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