NameCensus.

UK surname

Sandall

An English surname derived from a place name signifying sandy ridge or hill.

In the 1881 census there were 587 people recorded with the Sandall surname, ranking it #5,943 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 701, ranked #7,697, down from #5,943 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Thurlby, Northorpe and Obthorpe, London parishes and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Holland, South Kesteven and North Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sandall is 909 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.4%.

1881 census count

587

Ranked #5,943

Modern count

701

2016, ranked #7,697

Peak year

1911

909 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sandall had 587 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,943 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 701 in 2016, ranked #7,697.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 909 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sandall surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sandall surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sandall 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 416 #5,842
1861 historical 485 #5,385
1881 historical 587 #5,943
1891 historical 630 #6,141
1901 historical 835 #5,436
1911 historical 909 #4,909
1997 modern 698 #7,262
1998 modern 720 #7,315
1999 modern 731 #7,282
2000 modern 718 #7,364
2001 modern 705 #7,330
2002 modern 708 #7,444
2003 modern 694 #7,433
2004 modern 708 #7,330
2005 modern 701 #7,338
2006 modern 708 #7,287
2007 modern 728 #7,230
2008 modern 721 #7,316
2009 modern 738 #7,342
2010 modern 735 #7,487
2011 modern 718 #7,549
2012 modern 711 #7,517
2013 modern 726 #7,527
2014 modern 719 #7,619
2015 modern 710 #7,636
2016 modern 701 #7,697

Geography

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Where Sandalls are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Thurlby, Northorpe and Obthorpe, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Rippingale and Morton (incl. Hanthorpe). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Holland, South Kesteven and North Dorset. 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 Thurlby, Northorpe and Obthorpe Lincolnshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 Rippingale Lincolnshire
5 Morton (incl. Hanthorpe) Lincolnshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Holland 001 South Holland
2 South Kesteven 011 South Kesteven
3 North Dorset 004 North Dorset
4 South Kesteven 016 South Kesteven
5 South Holland 009 South Holland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sandall

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sandall

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

Sandall 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

Sandall falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Sandall

The surname Sandall has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the medieval period. The name is thought to have derived from the Old English words "sand" and "halh," which together translate to "sandy nook" or "sandy valley." This suggests that the name may have originally been a descriptive term for someone who lived near a sandy area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a landowner named Sandall is mentioned as holding lands in Yorkshire. This indicates that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name appeared in various historical documents, often with variations in spelling, such as Sandell, Sandill, and Sandylle. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions during that time.

In the 14th century, records show a William Sandall residing in the village of Sandall, near Doncaster, Yorkshire. This village likely took its name from the same Old English roots as the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the name and the geographic location.

Among the notable individuals with the surname Sandall throughout history are:

1. Sir Ralph Sandall (c. 1510-1582), an English merchant and alderman of the City of London during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. 2. John Sandall (c. 1620-1692), an English Puritan clergyman and author of several religious works. 3. William Sandall (1736-1808), an English clockmaker and inventor, known for his contributions to the development of precision timekeeping. 4. Sarah Sandall (1791-1868), a British poet and author of several volumes of verse. 5. Henry Sandall (1832-1903), an English cricketer who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the mid-19th century.

As the centuries passed, the Sandall name continued to be found throughout various regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire and the surrounding areas. While the name may have originated as a locational descriptor, it eventually became established as a hereditary surname, passed down through generations of families.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sandall families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sandall 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. Lincolnshire leads with 191 Sandalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.83x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 191 20.83x
Surrey 57 2.04x
Middlesex 45 0.78x
Staffordshire 40 2.07x
Warwickshire 40 2.77x
Norfolk 35 3.97x
Lancashire 25 0.37x
Yorkshire 19 0.33x
Gloucestershire 18 1.60x
Northamptonshire 18 3.34x
Oxfordshire 18 5.08x
Sussex 17 1.76x
Kent 10 0.51x
Somerset 10 1.08x
Derbyshire 8 0.89x
Bedfordshire 7 2.36x
Hampshire 7 0.60x
Durham 5 0.29x
Lanarkshire 4 0.22x
Hertfordshire 3 0.76x
Leicestershire 3 0.47x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.55x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.26x
Anglesey 1 0.98x
Berkshire 1 0.23x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.55x
Rutland 1 2.37x

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 23 Sandalls recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.60x.

Place Total Index
Lambeth 23 4.60x
Thurlby Obthorpe 23 1869.92x
Great Yarmouth 18 24.64x
Birmingham 17 3.53x
Morton In Bourn 15 802.14x
Rippingdale 15 1388.89x
Islington London 13 2.34x
Louth 12 57.09x
Pointon 12 1395.35x
Chailey 11 366.67x
Barnack 10 869.57x
Camberwell 10 2.73x
Gosberton 10 245.70x
St Pancras London 10 2.17x
Burton Upon Trent 9 19.87x
Gorton 9 14.07x
Greetham 9 3103.45x
Mile End Old Town 9 9.94x
Warborough 9 661.76x
Walsall Foreign 8 8.00x
Wandsworth 8 14.49x
West Bromwich 8 7.22x
Wilsthorpe 8 5000.00x
Barrow In Furness 7 7.56x
Bolehall Glascote 7 114.19x
Bourn 7 94.47x
Bristol St Paul In 7 23.36x
Litchurch 7 19.37x
Stamford St Michael 7 269.23x
Toft Lound Manthorpe 7 1346.15x
Bristol St James St Paul 6 16.00x
Checkendon 6 800.00x
Harbury 6 255.32x
Lyncombe Widcombe 6 24.82x
Newton Upon Trent 6 967.74x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 6 135.44x
Peterborough 6 15.36x
Reigate Foreign 6 19.83x
Baddesley Ensor 5 270.27x
Biggleswade 5 51.39x
Brightside Bierlow 5 4.49x
Drayton Bassett 5 568.18x
Great Driffield 5 42.88x
Kirkby Underwood 5 1190.48x
Somerby In Grantham 5 214.59x
Spalding 5 27.47x
Sprowston 5 128.53x
Weston 5 301.20x
Baston 4 263.16x
Bedminster 4 4.61x
Govan 4 0.87x
Langtoft 4 347.83x
Monkwearmouth Shore 4 12.01x
Stretford 4 10.68x
Subdeanery 4 54.50x
Tonbridge 4 5.67x
Toxteth Park 4 1.74x
Aslackby 3 337.08x
Dunsby 3 681.82x
Isleworth 3 11.76x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 3 11.33x
Kings Somborne 3 121.46x
Leamington 3 31.28x
Leicester St Margaret 3 1.93x
Penshurst 3 91.19x
S Stoke 3 180.72x
Shoreditch London 3 1.21x
Streatham 3 7.05x
Walsall Borough 3 19.96x
Wigtoft 3 225.56x
Carlby 2 625.00x
East Barnet 2 25.51x
Frithville Fishtoft 2 298.51x
Leighton Buzzard 2 15.65x
Ludford Magna 2 256.41x
Newington 2 12.78x
Parson Drove 2 137.93x
Skipton 2 11.18x
Stone 2 8.08x
Stow On The Wold 2 80.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 31
Elizabeth 30
Sarah 28
Emma 12
Eliza 9
Jane 9
Annie 8
Alice 7
Ellen 7
Emily 7
Louisa 7
Martha 7
Fanny 5
Florence 5
Frances 5
Ada 4
Ann 4
Catherine 4
Charlotte 4
Gertrude 4
Hannah 4
Anne 3
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Esther 3
Harriet 3
Harriett 3
Kate 3
Lydia 3
Maria 3
Susannah 3
Amy 2
Elizbth. 2
Elizth. 2
Julia 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Rebecca 2
Rose 2
Selina 2
Amelia 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
E.Jane 1
Elizebeth 1
Elizh. 1
Helen 1
Jemima 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 29
John 25
George 19
Charles 18
Robert 16
Henry 14
Thomas 14
Edward 13
Albert 8
Arthur 8
Alfred 7
Richard 7
Joseph 6
Ernest 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
David 4
Edwin 4
Francis 4
Zachariah 4
Frank 3
James 3
Walter 3
Benjamin 2
Eldred 2
Fred 2
Jackson 2
Mark 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Adam 1
Archibald 1
Charlie 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
Demitrius 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.Hanson 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Gordon 1
Jos. 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Martin 1
Matthew 1
Zechariah 1

FAQ

Sandall surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sandall surname in 1881?

In 1881, 587 people were recorded with the Sandall surname. That placed it at #5,943 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sandall surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 701 in 2016. That gives Sandall a modern rank of #7,697.

What does the Sandall surname mean?

An English surname derived from a place name signifying sandy ridge or hill.

What does the Sandall map show?

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