NameCensus.

UK surname

Sangster

A Scottish occupational surname referring to a singer, chorister, or precentor.

In the 1881 census there were 1,433 people recorded with the Sangster surname, ranking it #2,908 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,915, ranked #3,326, down from #2,908 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to New Deer, Old Deer and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cruden, Longside and Rattray and Hillside.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sangster is 2,008 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.6%.

1881 census count

1,433

Ranked #2,908

Modern count

1,915

2016, ranked #3,326

Peak year

2010

2,008 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sangster had 1,433 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,908 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,915 in 2016, ranked #3,326.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,729 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Sangster surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sangster surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sangster 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 1,032 #2,711
1861 historical 971 #2,866
1881 historical 1,433 #2,908
1891 historical 1,506 #2,926
1901 historical 1,729 #2,998
1911 historical 566 #7,137
1997 modern 1,895 #3,184
1998 modern 1,917 #3,266
1999 modern 1,958 #3,227
2000 modern 1,967 #3,207
2001 modern 1,896 #3,245
2002 modern 1,928 #3,270
2003 modern 1,864 #3,287
2004 modern 1,896 #3,246
2005 modern 1,878 #3,243
2006 modern 1,864 #3,287
2007 modern 1,880 #3,282
2008 modern 1,901 #3,274
2009 modern 1,943 #3,295
2010 modern 2,008 #3,263
2011 modern 1,950 #3,307
2012 modern 1,942 #3,264
2013 modern 1,971 #3,288
2014 modern 1,952 #3,323
2015 modern 1,937 #3,317
2016 modern 1,915 #3,326

Geography

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Where Sangsters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around New Deer, Old Deer, Edinburgh, Cruden and Slains. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cruden, Longside and Rattray, Hillside, Inverurie South and Banchory West. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 New Deer Aberdeen
2 Old Deer Aberdeen
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Cruden Aberdeen
5 Slains Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cruden Aberdeenshire
2 Longside and Rattray Aberdeenshire
3 Hillside Angus
4 Inverurie South Aberdeenshire
5 Banchory West Aberdeenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sangster

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sangster

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Sangster surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sangster household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sangster is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Sangster is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sangster falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Sangster

The surname Sangster originated in England during the late 12th century. It is an occupational name derived from the Old French word "sangster", meaning a singer or performer of secular songs. The name likely referred to minstrels or troubadours who entertained at courts and castles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name comes from the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1199, where a Robert le Sangster is mentioned. The "le" prefix denotes "the" in Old French, indicating his occupation rather than a family name at that time.

The Sangster name appears in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a John le Sangster. The Placita de Quo Warranto from 1292 also mentions a William le Sangster.

Over time, the name evolved from its occupational roots to become a hereditary surname. By the 14th century, it had lost the "le" prefix and was being used as a true surname.

One notable early figure was John Sangster, a 15th-century English monk and composer from Bury St Edmunds. His works were included in the Old Hall Manuscript, one of the most important sources of 15th-century English music.

Another individual of note was William Sangster, born in 1900 and a prominent English Methodist minister and author. He wrote several books, including "The Path to Perfection" and "The Craft of Sermon Construction".

In Scotland, the Sangster name can be traced back to the 16th century. One early example is James Sangster, born around 1540 in Angus, Scotland. He was a Protestant reformer and minister who played a role in the Scottish Reformation.

Across the Atlantic, one of the earliest recorded Sangsters in North America was Robert Sangster, who arrived in Virginia from England in 1635. He later settled in Maryland and was granted land there in 1638.

A more recent figure was Charles Sangster, a Canadian poet born in 1822 in Kingston, Ontario. He published several volumes of poetry, including "The St. Lawrence and the Saguenay" and "Hesperus, and Other Poems and Lyrics".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sangster families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sangster 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 737 Sangsters recorded in 1881 and an index of 56.97x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 737 56.97x
Middlesex 120 0.86x
Midlothian 63 3.37x
Lancashire 50 0.30x
Angus 43 3.32x
Lanarkshire 42 0.93x
Banffshire 41 14.15x
Surrey 38 0.56x
Durham 35 0.84x
Suffolk 29 1.70x
Yorkshire 27 0.20x
Kent 22 0.46x
Kincardineshire 20 11.76x
Northumberland 19 0.91x
West Lothian 19 9.03x
Hampshire 18 0.63x
Fife 14 1.69x
Kirkcudbrightshire 11 5.44x
Sussex 10 0.42x
Ayrshire 8 0.77x
Orkney 8 5.21x
Perthshire 8 1.28x
Stirlingshire 8 1.55x
Renfrewshire 6 0.55x
Derbyshire 4 0.18x
Sutherland 4 3.72x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.34x
Inverness-shire 3 0.72x
Royal Navy 3 1.80x
Somerset 3 0.13x
Essex 2 0.07x
Shropshire 2 0.17x
Warwickshire 2 0.06x
Bedfordshire 1 0.14x
Berkshire 1 0.10x
Caithness 1 0.52x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.87x
Cornwall 1 0.06x
Morayshire 1 0.46x
Norfolk 1 0.05x
Peeblesshire 1 1.52x
Roxburghshire 1 0.40x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 127 Sangsters recorded in 1881 and an index of 47.02x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 127 47.02x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 125 51.64x
Peterhead 48 70.17x
Cruden 40 240.10x
Slains 31 514.10x
Ellon 28 157.39x
Udny 26 331.63x
Manchester 25 3.35x
New Deer 24 102.48x
Old Deer 24 97.88x
Monquhitter 21 156.83x
Lambeth 20 1.64x
Belhelvie 18 203.39x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 18 2.39x
Lonmay 18 153.32x
Fyvie 16 75.79x
St Fergus 16 218.58x
Longside 15 97.09x
Newhills 15 56.63x
Glasgow 14 1.75x
Meldrum 14 128.44x
St Marylebone London 14 1.88x
Cavenham 13 1460.67x
Evenwood Barony 13 92.00x
Skene 13 151.52x
South Leith 13 6.17x
Byker 12 11.68x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 12 27.11x
Kinellar 12 433.21x
New Brentford 12 163.27x
Dundee 11 2.28x
Methlick 11 106.18x
North Leith 11 12.70x
Brechin 10 19.66x
Gamrie 10 30.91x
Govan 10 0.90x
New Monkland 10 7.49x
Portsea 10 1.78x
Tyrie 10 61.58x
Whitburn 10 32.91x
Chevington 9 338.35x
Foveran 9 91.93x
Hackney London 9 1.15x
Hampstead London 9 4.14x
Hunslet 9 4.17x
Islington London 9 0.66x
Middlestone 9 108.04x
Midmar 9 180.36x
Shoreditch London 9 1.49x
Wemyss 9 25.72x
Banchory Devenick 8 50.35x
Forfar 8 11.42x
Forgue 8 68.85x
Paddington London 8 1.56x
Pendleton In Salford 8 4.05x
Uphall 8 34.59x
Banchory Ternan 7 47.59x
Barony 7 0.61x
Battersea 7 1.36x
Cleckheaton 7 13.73x
Edinburgh St Georges 7 18.02x
Monkwearmouth Shore 7 8.63x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 2.28x
Clerkenwell London 6 1.82x
Eastbourne 6 5.54x
Echt 6 96.31x
Erith 6 12.78x
Girthon 6 88.24x
Glenmuick Tullich 6 64.38x
Heston 6 12.93x
Inverurie 6 41.01x
Mildenhall 6 33.19x
Mile End Old Town 6 2.72x
Mortlach 6 42.40x
Southampton St Mary 6 3.33x
Plumstead 5 3.15x
St George Hanover 5 2.74x
Stoke 5 15.57x
Tarves 5 40.85x
Westgate 5 3.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 16
Sarah 15
Ellen 7
Jane 7
Alice 6
Louisa 6
Margaret 6
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Kate 5
Emily 4
Florence 4
Isabella 4
Annie 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Esther 3
Fanny 3
Frances 3
Hannah 3
Jessie 3
Lucy 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Georgina 2
Harriet 2
Julia 2
Marian 2
Maud 2
Susannah 2
Alfred 1
Angie 1
Blanche 1
Cecelia 1
Cecilia 1
Eleanor 1
Ella 1
Elsa 1
Ethel 1
Euphemie 1
Eva 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Hellen 1
Henrietta 1
Isab. 1
Janetta 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 21
William 19
Thomas 14
George 12
Charles 8
James 8
Arthur 7
Henry 7
Albert 4
Alexander 4
Hugh 4
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Alfred 3
David 3
Edwin 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Benjamin 2
Chas. 2
Edward 2
Frederick 2
Jno.D. 2
Louis 2
Philip 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Walter 2
Andrew 1
Arnster 1
Balfour 1
Benj.W. 1
Bertram 1
Catherine 1
Daniel 1
Earl 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Horace 1
Lewis 1
Michael 1
Ralph 1
Ricd. 1
Richd. 1
Russell 1
Sidney 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Sangster surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sangster surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,433 people were recorded with the Sangster surname. That placed it at #2,908 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sangster surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,915 in 2016. That gives Sangster a modern rank of #3,326.

What does the Sangster surname mean?

A Scottish occupational surname referring to a singer, chorister, or precentor.

What does the Sangster map show?

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