UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the military rank of sergeant.
In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Sarge surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23, ranked #36,457, down from #29,218 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Mildenhall and Hull Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sarge is 169 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 25.8%.
1881 census count
31
Ranked #29,218
Modern count
23
2016, ranked #36,457
Peak year
1861
169 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sarge surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sarge surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 71 | #20,875 |
| 1861 | historical | 169 | #13,823 |
| 1881 | historical | 31 | #29,218 |
| 1891 | historical | 159 | #17,636 |
| 1901 | historical | 44 | #29,276 |
| 1911 | historical | 89 | #23,922 |
| 1997 | modern | 17 | #36,181 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 17 | #36,261 |
| 2000 | modern | 16 | #36,316 |
| 2001 | modern | 16 | #36,160 |
| 2002 | modern | 14 | #36,484 |
| 2003 | modern | 17 | #36,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 20 | #36,165 |
| 2006 | modern | 20 | #36,254 |
| 2007 | modern | 20 | #36,362 |
| 2008 | modern | 21 | #36,355 |
| 2009 | modern | 21 | #36,470 |
| 2010 | modern | 22 | #36,462 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 19 | #36,641 |
| 2013 | modern | 19 | #36,691 |
| 2014 | modern | 21 | #36,577 |
| 2015 | modern | 20 | #36,653 |
| 2016 | modern | 23 | #36,457 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Mildenhall, Hull Holy Trinity, St Mary Bishopshill Senior and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Mildenhall | Suffolk |
| 3 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 4 | St Mary Bishopshill Senior | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sarge surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sarge, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Sarge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sarge household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Sarge is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sarge is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sarge, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "SARGE" is believed to have originated in France, with its roots dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be a variation of the French word "serge," which refers to a type of twill fabric used for clothing. This fabric was highly prized during the Middle Ages, and it is possible that the name was initially given to someone who worked with or traded in serge cloth.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "SARGE" appears in the Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Conques, a manuscript from the 13th century that contains records of land transactions and other legal documents. In this manuscript, there is a reference to a person named "Guillelmus Sarge" who was involved in a land dispute.
The name "SARGE" later spread to other parts of Europe, including England, where it underwent various spelling variations, such as "Sargent" and "Sargeant." These variations were likely influenced by the French word "sergent," which means "servant" or "officer."
One notable bearer of the name was John Sargent (1580-1633), an English politician and lawyer who served as a Member of Parliament and as a Justice of the Peace in Hertfordshire. Another prominent figure was John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), an American artist renowned for his portraits and landscapes.
In the United States, the name "SARGE" can be traced back to the early colonial era. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of William Sarge, who was born in Massachusetts in the late 17th century. Another notable bearer was Joseph Sarge (1733-1818), a soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War.
Throughout history, there have been several other individuals with the surname "SARGE" who have left their mark in various fields. For example, George Sarge (1871-1943) was a British artist known for his landscape paintings, while Richard Sarge (1906-1989) was a German-American mathematician and computer scientist who made significant contributions to the field of numerical analysis.
The surname "SARGE" continues to be found in various parts of the world, with its origins rooted in the textile industry of medieval France. Despite its somewhat obscure beginnings, the name has persisted through the centuries, carried by individuals who have made their mark in diverse fields and left a lasting legacy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sarge surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Yorkshire leads with 24 Sarges recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.01x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire | 24 | 8.01x |
| Lincolnshire | 6 | 12.41x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 1.31x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bradford in Yorkshire leads with 8 Sarges recorded in 1881 and an index of 110.34x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bradford | 8 | 110.34x |
| York St Mary | 7 | 564.52x |
| Market Deeping | 6 | 4615.38x |
| Askham Richard | 4 | 20000.00x |
| Doncaster | 2 | 91.32x |
| Newington | 2 | 240.96x |
| Allesley | 1 | 1000.00x |
| St Mary | 1 | 500.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sarge surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sarge surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Sarge households.
FAQ
In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Sarge surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 23 in 2016. That gives Sarge a modern rank of #36,457.
An occupational surname derived from the military rank of sergeant.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sarge bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.