NameCensus.

UK surname

Sanham

In the 1881 census there were 52 people recorded with the Sanham surname, ranking it #26,281 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 91, ranked #32,109, down from #26,281 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Crayford, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth and South Stoneham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thanet, Charnwood and East Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sanham is 146 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 75.0%.

1881 census count

52

Ranked #26,281

Modern count

91

2016, ranked #32,109

Peak year

1861

146 bearers

Map years

1

1861 to 1861

Key insights

  • Sanham had 52 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #26,281 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 91 in 2016, ranked #32,109.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 146 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Sanham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sanham surname density by area, 1861 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sanham 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 146 #15,628
1881 historical 52 #26,281
1891 historical 77 #27,169
1901 historical 70 #26,383
1911 historical 53 #27,508
1997 modern 97 #27,342
1998 modern 93 #28,563
1999 modern 96 #28,326
2000 modern 97 #28,142
2001 modern 94 #28,246
2002 modern 90 #29,314
2003 modern 92 #28,974
2004 modern 95 #28,746
2005 modern 97 #28,485
2006 modern 94 #29,264
2007 modern 95 #29,493
2008 modern 96 #29,654
2009 modern 101 #29,445
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 99 #30,218
2012 modern 83 #32,611
2013 modern 84 #32,745
2014 modern 82 #32,992
2015 modern 89 #32,325
2016 modern 91 #32,109

Geography

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Where Sanhams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Crayford, Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth, South Stoneham, Dartford and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thanet, Charnwood, East Devon and Weymouth and Portland. 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 Crayford Kent
2 Coveney, Manea, Mepal, Downham, Witcham, Witchford, Wentworth Cambridgeshire
3 South Stoneham Hampshire
4 Dartford Kent
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thanet 013 Thanet
2 Charnwood 006 Charnwood
3 East Devon 010 East Devon
4 Weymouth and Portland 002 Weymouth and Portland
5 Charnwood 005 Charnwood

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sanham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sanham

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sanham, 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 Sanham surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sanham household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Sanham is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

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

Sanham is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sanham 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 Sanham 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 Sanham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Sanham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sanham 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. Kent leads with 33 Sanhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.84x.

County Total Index
Kent 33 19.84x
Norfolk 13 17.34x
Middlesex 2 0.41x
Surrey 2 0.84x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bexley in Kent leads with 22 Sanhams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1496.60x.

Place Total Index
Bexley 22 1496.60x
Diss 6 937.50x
Crayford 5 684.93x
Dartford 3 176.47x
Erith 3 182.93x
Lakenham 3 280.37x
Hellesdon 2 1428.57x
Hempnall 2 1333.33x
East Molesey 1 181.82x
Hampstead London 1 13.18x
Islington London 1 2.12x
Lambeth 1 2.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Elizabeth 4
Mary 4
Harriett 2
Alice 1
Allice 1
Annie 1
Edith 1
Eliza 1
Emma 1
Florence 1
Harriet 1
Henrietta 1
Jane 1
Martha 1
Minnie 1
Rachael 1
Rachel 1
Rosella 1
Sarah 1
Susan 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 5
Thomas 3
James 2
Steven 2
William 2
Albert 1
Auther 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Henry 1
John 1
Pearce 1
Richard 1
Stephen 1

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 Sanham households.

FAQ

Sanham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sanham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 52 people were recorded with the Sanham surname. That placed it at #26,281 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sanham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 91 in 2016. That gives Sanham a modern rank of #32,109.

What does the Sanham map show?

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