NameCensus.

UK surname

Sandal

A surname derived from the Arabic word for sandal, likely referring to an occupation related to sandal-making or selling.

In the 1881 census there were 48 people recorded with the Sandal surname, ranking it #26,869 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 147, ranked #24,071, up from #26,869 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sandwell, Kingston upon Hull and Slough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sandal is 148 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 206.3%.

1881 census count

48

Ranked #26,869

Modern count

147

2016, ranked #24,071

Peak year

2013

148 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sandal had 48 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,869 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016, ranked #24,071.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 78 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students.

Sandal surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sandal surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sandal 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 42 #25,706
1861 historical 78 #23,836
1881 historical 48 #26,869
1891 historical 55 #29,744
1901 historical 52 #28,377
1911 historical 49 #27,894
1997 modern 104 #26,351
1998 modern 119 #24,918
1999 modern 111 #26,182
2000 modern 110 #26,248
2001 modern 110 #25,900
2002 modern 114 #25,886
2003 modern 113 #25,797
2004 modern 120 #25,078
2005 modern 115 #25,702
2006 modern 109 #26,872
2007 modern 112 #26,800
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 130 #25,176
2010 modern 133 #25,379
2011 modern 138 #24,615
2012 modern 139 #24,485
2013 modern 148 #23,884
2014 modern 144 #24,504
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 147 #24,071

Geography

Back to top

Where Sandals are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sandwell, Kingston upon Hull, Slough, Ealing and Coventry. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sandwell 023 Sandwell
2 Kingston upon Hull 011 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 Slough 002 Slough
4 Ealing 037 Ealing
5 Coventry 009 Coventry

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sandal

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sandal

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students

Nationally, the Sandal surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Multicultural Communities and Students, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Sandal household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Married couples with dependent children are common in this Group, with many parents born in Africa or the EU. The representation of residents amongst different ethnic minority groups is high, particularly for individuals of Pakistani ethnic group. For many residents, English is not their main language, and affiliation to Christian religions is less common. Privately rented terrace properties predominate and levels of overcrowding are high. Part time work is common, with many employed in elementary occupations and sales and customer services. There are also many students living within these areas, and overall unemployment levels are high.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Sandal 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

Sandal 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

Sandal 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 Sandal 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
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Sandal

The surname Sandal is of Old English origin, derived from the word "sandal" which referred to a type of footwear made of leather or wood. The name is believed to have originated in areas of medieval England where sandal-making was a common occupation or trade.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sandal can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a place called "Sandale" in Yorkshire. This place name is thought to be the source of the surname, referring to those who lived or worked in the area.

In the 13th century, records show individuals with the surname Sandal in various parts of England, such as William Sandal, who was a landowner in Lincolnshire in 1273. Another early bearer of the name was John Sandal, a merchant from York mentioned in records from 1327.

During the 14th century, the surname Sandal was found in various spellings, including Sandell, Sandale, and Sandall. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Sandal, a cleric and author who lived in the latter half of the 14th century and wrote several religious works.

In the 15th century, the surname Sandal continued to be found in various parts of England, with records showing bearers in counties such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. One notable individual from this time was Sir Richard Sandal, a knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses and was killed in battle in 1460.

By the 16th century, the surname Sandal had spread to other parts of the British Isles, including Scotland and Ireland. One notable bearer of the name from this period was William Sandal, a Scottish poet and playwright who lived in the late 16th century and authored several works of literature.

In the 17th century, the surname Sandal was found in various spellings, including Sandall, Sandell, and Sandel. One notable individual from this time was John Sandall, an English clergyman who served as the Archdeacon of Coventry in the mid-17th century.

As the name Sandal spread throughout the British Isles and beyond, it was carried by individuals who migrated to other parts of the world, including the Americas and Australia. Over time, the name has been borne by many notable individuals across various fields, including politics, literature, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sandal families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sandal 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 10 Sandals recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.09x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 10 2.09x
Lincolnshire 9 11.78x
Norfolk 9 12.25x
Staffordshire 5 3.10x
Yorkshire 4 0.84x
Leicestershire 3 5.66x
Surrey 3 1.29x
Cheshire 2 1.90x
Cambridgeshire 1 3.30x
Gloucestershire 1 1.07x
Hampshire 1 1.02x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.55x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Broughton in Lincolnshire leads with 7 Sandals recorded in 1881 and an index of 3333.33x.

Place Total Index
Broughton 7 3333.33x
Upwell 7 2058.82x
Hackney London 5 18.66x
St Marylebone London 4 15.67x
Egham 3 209.79x
Handsworth 3 75.38x
Humberstone 2 454.55x
Liscard 2 105.26x
Wakefield 2 54.95x
Walsall Borough 2 160.00x
Aslackby 1 1428.57x
Doncaster 1 28.90x
Islington London 1 2.16x
Nafferton 1 500.00x
Newton Upon Trent 1 2000.00x
North Collingham 1 666.67x
St Bartholomew Hyde 1 434.78x
Stroud 1 54.95x
Swainsthorpe 1 2000.00x
Swannington 1 500.00x
Walsoken 1 227.27x
Wisbech St Peter 1 65.79x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Eliza 3
Mary 3
Ann 2
Annie 2
Sarah 2
Catherine 1
Emma 1
Ester 1
Florance 1
Frances 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Honor 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Maria 1
Polly 1

Top male names

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

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Sandal households.

FAQ

Sandal surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sandal surname in 1881?

In 1881, 48 people were recorded with the Sandal surname. That placed it at #26,869 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sandal surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 147 in 2016. That gives Sandal a modern rank of #24,071.

What does the Sandal surname mean?

A surname derived from the Arabic word for sandal, likely referring to an occupation related to sandal-making or selling.

What does the Sandal map show?

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