NameCensus.

UK surname

Sander

A surname of German origin, derived from the given name Alexander or an occupational name for a sander.

In the 1881 census there were 352 people recorded with the Sander surname, ranking it #8,718 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 473, ranked #10,409, down from #8,718 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Basford, London parishes and Carlisle St Cuthbert. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Watford, Birmingham and Peterborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sander is 778 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 34.4%.

1881 census count

352

Ranked #8,718

Modern count

473

2016, ranked #10,409

Peak year

1891

778 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sander had 352 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,718 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 473 in 2016, ranked #10,409.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 778 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Outer Suburbs.

Sander surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sander surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sander 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 390 #6,155
1861 historical 721 #3,771
1881 historical 352 #8,718
1891 historical 778 #5,157
1901 historical 442 #8,818
1911 historical 566 #7,137
1997 modern 391 #11,196
1998 modern 410 #11,143
1999 modern 424 #10,969
2000 modern 410 #11,204
2001 modern 400 #11,229
2002 modern 403 #11,382
2003 modern 395 #11,364
2004 modern 407 #11,135
2005 modern 418 #10,812
2006 modern 419 #10,837
2007 modern 428 #10,766
2008 modern 429 #10,850
2009 modern 437 #10,947
2010 modern 454 #10,833
2011 modern 462 #10,570
2012 modern 437 #10,915
2013 modern 456 #10,722
2014 modern 469 #10,570
2015 modern 460 #10,652
2016 modern 473 #10,409

Geography

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Where Sanders are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Basford, London parishes, Carlisle St Cuthbert and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Watford, Birmingham, Peterborough, County Durham and Oxford. 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 Basford Nottinghamshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Carlisle St Cuthbert Cumberland
4 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
5 London parishes London 3

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Watford 008 Watford
2 Birmingham 024 Birmingham
3 Peterborough 018 Peterborough
4 County Durham 048 County Durham
5 Oxford 011 Oxford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sander

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sander

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

Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals

Group

Outer Suburbs

Nationally, the Sander surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Outer Suburbs, within Ethnically Diverse Suburban Professionals. This does not mean every Sander household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are found on the outer edges of many towns and cities. Many residents were born outside the UK. Indian ethnic group representation is high. There are high numbers of families with dependent children aged 5 to 14. Incidences of disability and of provision of unpaid care are low. Neighbourhoods provide a mix of detached housing and flats, and terraced housing is not uncommon. Levels of overcrowding are low and homeownership rates are high. Professional and managerial occupations are prevalent: unemployment is low and education to degree level is the norm.

Wider pattern

Those working within the managerial, professional and administrative occupations typically reflect a wide range of ethnic groups, and reside in detached or semi-detached housing. Their residential locations at the edges of cities and conurbations and car-based lifestyles are more characteristic of Supergroup membership than birthplace or participation in child-rearing. Houses are typically owner-occupied and marriage rates are lower than the national average. This Supergroup is found throughout suburban UK.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Sander is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sander 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

Sander 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 Sander 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
Other Ethnic Group

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

Meaning and origin of Sander

The surname Sander is of Germanic origin, derived from the ancient Germanic word "sand" meaning "sand" or "sandy." It is believed to have originated as an occupational surname for someone who lived or worked near sandy areas or as a nickname for someone with sandy or reddish-colored hair.

The name Sander can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of Germany, particularly in the northern and central areas. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Codex Traditionum Monasterii Sancti Galli, a medieval cartulary from the Abbey of St. Gallen in Switzerland, which mentions a "Sander" in the year 1150.

In England, the name Sander is believed to have been introduced by German immigrants during the 16th and 17th centuries. The earliest recorded instance of the name in England is found in the parish records of St. Giles Cripplegate, London, where a William Sander was mentioned in 1567.

Several notable historical figures have borne the surname Sander, including Nicholas Sander (1530-1581), an English Roman Catholic priest and polemical writer during the Elizabethan era. Another prominent figure was Hans Sander (1544-1635), a German theologian and Lutheran pastor who played a significant role in the Reformation.

In the arts, one of the most renowned individuals with the surname Sander was the German painter and photographer August Sander (1876-1964), best known for his monumental documentary work "People of the 20th Century." Another notable figure was the German novelist and playwright August Sander (1828-1915), whose works explored the social and political issues of his time.

Another prominent Sander was Friedrich Sander (1847-1920), a German botanist and horticulturist who specialized in orchids and introduced numerous new species to Europe. His work contributed significantly to the understanding and cultivation of orchids.

It is worth noting that the surname Sander has undergone various spelling variations over time, including Sanders, Saunders, and Sanderson, reflecting regional linguistic influences and adaptations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sander families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sander 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 86 Sanders recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.50x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 86 2.50x
Cumberland 44 14.88x
Lancashire 21 0.52x
Warwickshire 21 2.43x
Surrey 20 1.20x
Devon 19 2.66x
Nottinghamshire 18 3.89x
Staffordshire 18 1.55x
Kent 16 1.37x
Sussex 14 2.42x
Durham 12 1.17x
Derbyshire 11 2.05x
Northamptonshire 8 2.48x
Cheshire 6 0.79x
Glamorgan 4 0.67x
Hertfordshire 4 1.69x
Lincolnshire 4 0.73x
Somerset 4 0.72x
Brecknockshire 3 4.37x
Leicestershire 3 0.79x
Gloucestershire 2 0.30x
Midlothian 2 0.43x
Yorkshire 2 0.06x
Berkshire 1 0.39x
Cornwall 1 0.26x
Denbighshire 1 0.77x
Dorset 1 0.44x
Flintshire 1 1.08x
Lanarkshire 1 0.09x
Montgomeryshire 1 1.27x
Royal Navy 1 2.44x
Westmorland 1 1.33x
Wiltshire 1 0.33x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 15 Sanders recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.29x.

Place Total Index
Aston 15 6.29x
Islington London 14 4.21x
Basford 13 60.95x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 15.92x
Deptford St Paul 10 11.07x
Rowley Regis 9 27.86x
Skelton 9 1058.82x
Hornsey 8 18.42x
Acton 7 34.77x
Barrow In Furness 7 12.63x
Nassington 7 833.33x
St George In East 7 29.98x
Thornley 7 189.19x
Berrier Murrah 6 5000.00x
Birmingham 6 2.08x
Chelsea London 6 5.80x
Hackney London 6 3.12x
Limehouse London 6 15.92x
Mile End Old Town 6 11.07x
West Derby 6 5.03x
Ainstable 5 943.40x
Dacre 5 438.60x
Dukinfield 5 14.28x
Hove 5 19.69x
Lambeth 5 1.67x
Landkey 5 714.29x
Northam 5 95.97x
Walsall Borough 5 55.56x
Dawlish 4 75.05x
Derby All Sts 4 89.09x
Edmonton 4 14.46x
Gamblesby 4 1250.00x
Graystoke 4 754.72x
Hampstead London 4 7.48x
Keswick 4 105.82x
Little Blencow 4 5714.29x
Radford 4 17.01x
St Albans 4 82.47x
St Pancras London 4 1.45x
Tonbridge 4 9.47x
Willington 4 67.80x
Bath St James 3 52.08x
Belper 3 28.79x
Claylane 3 40.16x
Grantham 3 41.90x
Hurstpierpoint 3 93.17x
Hutton John 3 5000.00x
Kensington London 3 1.57x
Llangattock 3 53.67x
Roath 3 11.05x
Tormoham 3 9.92x
Westminster St James 3 8.50x
Cheetham 2 6.58x
Hastings St Mary 2 13.88x
Hulme 2 2.35x
Leicester St Margaret 2 2.15x
Newington 2 1.58x
Paddington London 2 1.58x
Petworth 2 57.80x
Rugeley 2 24.04x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.67x
Camberwell 1 0.46x
Chetnole 1 344.83x
Farnham 1 7.69x
Gainsborough 1 7.73x
Halstead 1 277.78x
Hampstead Norris 1 61.73x
Isleworth 1 6.55x
Mold Leeswood 1 47.85x
Plymouth St Andrew 1 1.82x
Royal Navy 1 2.86x
South Hamlet 1 23.98x
St Marylebone London 1 0.55x
Stockport 1 2.56x
Twineham 1 294.12x
Walton On Trent 1 192.31x
Warehorne 1 158.73x
Willenhall 1 4.61x
Windle 1 4.36x
Wolstanton 1 2.84x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 14
Sarah 10
Ann 7
Jane 7
Emma 6
Annie 5
Hannah 5
Anne 4
Maria 4
Amelia 3
Bessie 3
Charlotte 3
Fanny 3
Margaret 3
Minnie 3
Alice 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Ellen 2
Harriett 2
Laura 2
Louise 2
Martha 2
May 2
Phoebe 2
Ruth 2
Selina 2
Susannah 2
Anna 1
Barbara 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Elizth.S. 1
Emily 1
Eveyln 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Fritz 1
Grace 1
Katherine 1
Kezia 1
Lizzie 1
Louis 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Lydia 1
Mabel 1
Madeline 1
Margarate 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 24
John 22
George 12
James 12
Thomas 10
Joseph 9
Charles 7
Richard 6
Henry 5
Alfred 4
Robert 4
Albert 3
Arthur 3
Anthony 2
Edward 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Gustave 2
Herbert 2
Samuel 2
Cashmise 1
Edgar 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Errnest 1
Fearuley 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Gerald 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Horace 1
Hugh 1
J. 1
Jame 1
Johanne 1
Jonathan 1
Louis 1
Ludwig 1
Matthew 1
Noah 1
Norman 1
Patrick 1
Percy 1
Robt. 1
Sidney 1
Stephen 1
Syrul 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Sander surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sander surname in 1881?

In 1881, 352 people were recorded with the Sander surname. That placed it at #8,718 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sander surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 473 in 2016. That gives Sander a modern rank of #10,409.

What does the Sander surname mean?

A surname of German origin, derived from the given name Alexander or an occupational name for a sander.

What does the Sander map show?

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