NameCensus.

UK surname

Sansom

Derived from the Old Norse personal name "Sámr" or "Sami," meaning "swarthy" or "dark-skinned."

In the 1881 census there were 2,010 people recorded with the Sansom surname, ranking it #2,188 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,117, ranked #2,168, up from #2,188 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Portland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Hertfordshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Harborough.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sansom is 3,370 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.1%.

1881 census count

2,010

Ranked #2,188

Modern count

3,117

2016, ranked #2,168

Peak year

2000

3,370 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sansom had 2,010 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,188 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,117 in 2016, ranked #2,168.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,883 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sansom surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sansom surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sansom 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 1,397 #2,052
1861 historical 888 #3,120
1881 historical 2,010 #2,188
1891 historical 1,727 #2,631
1901 historical 2,627 #2,100
1911 historical 2,883 #1,806
1997 modern 3,224 #1,997
1998 modern 3,342 #2,003
1999 modern 3,354 #2,019
2000 modern 3,370 #2,001
2001 modern 3,295 #2,000
2002 modern 3,335 #2,025
2003 modern 3,226 #2,037
2004 modern 3,216 #2,045
2005 modern 3,131 #2,068
2006 modern 3,127 #2,074
2007 modern 3,095 #2,113
2008 modern 3,064 #2,148
2009 modern 3,108 #2,174
2010 modern 3,200 #2,158
2011 modern 3,161 #2,158
2012 modern 3,176 #2,122
2013 modern 3,185 #2,147
2014 modern 3,184 #2,158
2015 modern 3,152 #2,158
2016 modern 3,117 #2,168

Geography

Back to top

Where Sansoms are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to North Hertfordshire, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Harborough, Flintshire and Shepway. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Portland Dorset
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Hertfordshire 014 North Hertfordshire
2 Rhondda Cynon Taf 001 Rhondda Cynon Taf
3 Harborough 003 Harborough
4 Flintshire 015 Flintshire
5 Shepway 008 Shepway

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sansom

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sansom

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Sansom 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

Sansom 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

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

Meaning and origin of Sansom

The surname Sansom has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the personal name "Sanson," which was the Middle English form of the Biblical name "Samson."

This surname was likely bestowed upon a person perceived as possessing great physical strength, alluding to the biblical figure of Samson known for his superhuman strength. Variants of the name, such as Sansun and Sansoune, can be found in early records.

One of the earliest references to the surname Sansom appears in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1273, where it is recorded as "Sanson." This indicates that the name was already in use by the 13th century.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, does not explicitly mention the surname Sansom. However, it does include entries for individuals bearing the personal name "Sansone" or "Sansun," which may have later evolved into the surname.

In the 14th century, the name Sansom can be found in various historical documents, such as the Patent Rolls of 1328, which mention a "John Sansom" from Oxfordshire. Another notable example is John Sansom (c. 1510-1596), an English Benedictine monk and scholar who was born in Coventry.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Sansom became more widely distributed across England, with records indicating its presence in various regions. One notable bearer was Sir James Sansom (1621-1696), an English politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1689.

In the 18th century, the name continued to gain prominence, with individuals like William Sansom (1690-1751), a British naval officer and MP for Plymouth, and Thomas Sansom (1736-1793), an English dissenting minister and tutor.

The 19th century saw the rise of several influential figures with the surname Sansom, such as Joseph Sansom (1807-1876), an English Quaker and philanthropist who co-founded the company J. and A. Sansom, and Arthur Ernest Sansom (1838-1925), a British novelist and playwright.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sansom families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sansom 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. Dorset leads with 347 Sansoms recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.83x.

County Total Index
Dorset 347 26.83x
Nottinghamshire 259 9.75x
Middlesex 207 1.05x
Devon 170 4.14x
Surrey 124 1.29x
Somerset 98 3.09x
Hampshire 80 1.98x
Gloucestershire 74 1.91x
Wiltshire 65 3.73x
Oxfordshire 56 4.60x
Lancashire 55 0.24x
Essex 54 1.39x
Warwickshire 53 1.07x
Yorkshire 51 0.26x
Leicestershire 49 2.24x
Kent 33 0.49x
Northamptonshire 33 1.78x
Staffordshire 31 0.47x
Cambridgeshire 28 2.24x
Hertfordshire 16 1.18x
Huntingdonshire 16 4.09x
Lincolnshire 16 0.51x
Suffolk 14 0.58x
Derbyshire 12 0.39x
Channel Islands 9 1.54x
Glamorgan 9 0.26x
Monmouthshire 8 0.56x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.59x
Worcestershire 7 0.27x
Durham 5 0.09x
Shropshire 5 0.29x
Berkshire 4 0.27x
Cornwall 4 0.18x
Royal Navy 4 1.70x
Sussex 4 0.12x
Cheshire 3 0.07x
Bedfordshire 2 0.20x
Cumberland 2 0.12x
Herefordshire 2 0.25x
Lanarkshire 2 0.03x
Midlothian 1 0.04x
Northumberland 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Portland in Dorset leads with 83 Sansoms recorded in 1881 and an index of 119.36x.

Place Total Index
Portland 83 119.36x
Mansfield 73 79.43x
Nottingham St Mary 61 8.88x
Barrow In Furness 31 9.75x
Newington 29 3.98x
Aston 26 1.90x
Snenton 26 24.92x
Camberwell 23 1.83x
Leicester St Margaret 23 4.32x
Lyme Regis 22 142.03x
Battersea 21 2.90x
Chiswick 20 18.58x
Combpyne 20 2325.58x
Mile End Old Town 20 6.43x
Radford 19 14.08x
St Marylebone London 19 1.81x
St Pancras London 19 1.20x
Sutton In Ashfield 19 32.96x
West Ham 19 2.21x
Bethnal Green London 18 2.10x
Sherborne 18 47.26x
Oxford St Thomas 17 29.93x
Birmingham 16 0.97x
Portsea 16 2.02x
Honiton 15 66.08x
Bulwell 14 24.25x
Chideock 14 307.69x
Kensington London 14 1.28x
Wareham Lady St Mary 14 140.14x
Plymouth St Andrew 13 4.11x
Shoreditch London 13 1.52x
Bishopstone 11 132.37x
Cattistock 11 307.26x
East Stoke 11 279.19x
Islington London 11 0.58x
Mansfield Woodhouse 11 62.25x
Minchinhampton 11 35.73x
Nether Hallam 11 4.16x
Oaksey 11 380.62x
Colchester St Botolph 10 30.23x
Ealing 10 5.68x
Holdenhurst 10 9.44x
Lytchett Minster 10 174.52x
Pinxton 10 63.78x
Richmond 10 7.43x
Sutton 10 96.62x
Towcester 10 52.30x
Bilston 9 6.98x
Bromham 9 114.65x
Buckland Newton 9 155.71x
Doncaster 9 6.31x
Hackney London 9 0.81x
Hemyock 9 147.06x
Hook 9 865.38x
Oxford St Ebbe 9 25.13x
Redbourn 9 60.65x
Wetherden 9 267.86x
Wimborne 9 57.51x
Almer 8 833.33x
Axminster 8 41.60x
Banbury 8 32.83x
Chatteris 8 25.13x
Colchester St Peter 8 51.41x
Deptford St Paul 8 1.54x
Fisherton Anger 8 24.80x
Fulham London 8 2.80x
Hinckley 8 15.44x
Littleton On Severn 8 597.01x
Moulton 8 52.77x
St Owen 8 52.15x
Taunton St James 8 17.29x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 1.92x
Crowcombe 7 235.69x
Evershot 7 207.72x
Long Whatton 7 147.68x
Naseby 7 170.32x
St Andrewthe Less 7 4.91x
Wombwell 7 12.29x
Woodbury 7 57.57x
Worsbrough 7 12.24x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 133
John 108
Henry 83
George 72
James 69
Charles 47
Thomas 47
Joseph 32
Robert 32
Edward 26
Frederick 21
Arthur 18
Harry 18
Richard 18
Alfred 16
Samuel 16
Albert 14
Walter 14
Frank 13
Ernest 10
Benjamin 9
Edwin 8
Abraham 7
Fredk. 6
Fredrick 6
Herbert 6
Andrew 5
Francis 5
Fred 5
Isaac 4
Sidney 4
Amos 3
Chas. 3
Stephen 3
Tom 3
Willie 3
Wm. 3
Bertram 2
Edmund 2
Giles 2
Harold 2
Horace 2
Jacob 2
Matthew 2
Philip 2
Reuben 2
Robt. 2
Seth 2
Thos. 2
Wilfred 2

FAQ

Sansom surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sansom surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,010 people were recorded with the Sansom surname. That placed it at #2,188 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sansom surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,117 in 2016. That gives Sansom a modern rank of #2,168.

What does the Sansom surname mean?

Derived from the Old Norse personal name "Sámr" or "Sami," meaning "swarthy" or "dark-skinned."

What does the Sansom map show?

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