NameCensus.

UK surname

Sargent

An occupational surname referring to a servant or attendant.

In the 1881 census there were 4,600 people recorded with the Sargent surname, ranking it #973 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,118, ranked #1,107, down from #973 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wolverhampton, North Lincolnshire and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sargent is 6,457 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.0%.

1881 census count

4,600

Ranked #973

Modern count

6,118

2016, ranked #1,107

Peak year

1998

6,457 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sargent had 4,600 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #973 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,118 in 2016, ranked #1,107.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 6,416 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sargent surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sargent surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sargent 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 2,336 #1,270
1861 historical 2,841 #1,030
1881 historical 4,600 #973
1891 historical 4,942 #947
1901 historical 5,972 #929
1911 historical 6,416 #799
1997 modern 6,254 #1,051
1998 modern 6,457 #1,059
1999 modern 6,457 #1,063
2000 modern 6,372 #1,073
2001 modern 6,255 #1,071
2002 modern 6,359 #1,075
2003 modern 6,176 #1,081
2004 modern 6,120 #1,088
2005 modern 5,955 #1,097
2006 modern 5,902 #1,104
2007 modern 6,013 #1,096
2008 modern 6,045 #1,096
2009 modern 6,201 #1,101
2010 modern 6,288 #1,106
2011 modern 6,238 #1,099
2012 modern 6,084 #1,103
2013 modern 6,203 #1,102
2014 modern 6,256 #1,099
2015 modern 6,126 #1,106
2016 modern 6,118 #1,107

Geography

Back to top

Where Sargents are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Walsall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wolverhampton, North Lincolnshire, Cornwall, Tandridge and Hambleton. 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 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire
5 Walsall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wolverhampton 004 Wolverhampton
2 North Lincolnshire 022 North Lincolnshire
3 Cornwall 001 Cornwall
4 Tandridge 011 Tandridge
5 Hambleton 009 Hambleton

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sargent

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sargent

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

Sargent is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Sargent

The surname Sargent has its roots in the French language, originating from the Old French word "sergent," which itself derived from the Latin "serviens," meaning "servant." The name initially denoted a person who held a position of authority or service, often in a military or legal context.

In medieval England, the term "sergeant" was used to refer to various officials and officers, such as a sergeant-at-arms or a sergeant-at-law. It is believed that the surname Sargent emerged during this period, initially borne by individuals who held these positions or were employed in similar roles.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Sargent can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sargant." This historical record, commissioned by William the Conqueror, documented landowners and their holdings across England.

The Sargent surname gained prominence in various parts of England, including Staffordshire, Gloucestershire, and Oxfordshire. Notable individuals bearing this name include Sir John Sargent (1568-1633), an English military officer who served in the English Civil War, and Henry Sargent (1770-1845), a British artist known for his landscape paintings.

In the United States, the Sargent surname can be traced back to the early colonial era. One of the earliest recorded individuals with this name was William Sargent (1610-1675), an English settler who arrived in Massachusetts in 1638 and later became a prominent figure in the colony.

Another notable American with the Sargent surname was John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), a renowned portrait painter acclaimed for his virtuoso technique and elegant depictions of high society. His works, such as "Madame X" and "The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit," are considered masterpieces of American portraiture.

Other distinguished individuals with the Sargent surname include Sir John Sargent (1610-1691), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament, and Sir Henry Sargent (1770-1845), a British military officer who fought in the Napoleonic Wars.

The Sargent surname has also been associated with various place names, such as Sargentville in Maine and Sargent County in North Dakota, both in the United States, reflecting the geographical spread and influence of individuals bearing this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Sargent families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sargent 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 573 Sargents recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.27x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 573 1.27x
Sussex 393 5.18x
Surrey 343 1.56x
Essex 294 3.31x
Kent 287 1.87x
Staffordshire 206 1.36x
Cornwall 203 3.99x
Devon 180 1.92x
Lancashire 175 0.33x
Suffolk 170 3.10x
Dorset 147 4.98x
Yorkshire 145 0.33x
Warwickshire 143 1.26x
Gloucestershire 137 1.55x
Somerset 127 1.75x
Northamptonshire 123 2.91x
Hampshire 118 1.28x
Lincolnshire 104 1.45x
Wiltshire 97 2.44x
Cambridgeshire 96 3.37x
Hertfordshire 42 1.35x
Nottinghamshire 42 0.69x
Durham 40 0.30x
Cheshire 27 0.27x
Glamorgan 27 0.34x
Norfolk 26 0.38x
Berkshire 25 0.74x
Leicestershire 24 0.48x
Bedfordshire 23 0.99x
Monmouthshire 22 0.68x
Derbyshire 21 0.30x
Oxfordshire 21 0.76x
Shropshire 21 0.54x
Northumberland 18 0.27x
Worcestershire 16 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 15 0.55x
Rutland 15 4.54x
Westmorland 15 1.52x
Lanarkshire 14 0.10x
Cumberland 12 0.31x
Herefordshire 11 0.60x
Midlothian 11 0.18x
Ayrshire 10 0.30x
Brecknockshire 8 0.89x
Channel Islands 8 0.60x
Montgomeryshire 8 0.78x
Royal Navy 8 1.49x
Denbighshire 5 0.29x
Inverness-shire 5 0.37x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.07x
Angus 1 0.02x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.06x
East Lothian 1 0.17x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.11x
Isle of Man 1 0.12x
Perthshire 1 0.05x
Renfrewshire 1 0.03x
Selkirkshire 1 0.25x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 68 Sargents recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.80x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 68 1.80x
West Ham 52 2.65x
St Pancras London 49 1.35x
Islington London 46 1.05x
Lambeth 46 1.17x
Stoke Damerel 44 6.71x
Brighton 40 2.61x
Woolwich 39 6.88x
Bermondsey 37 2.76x
Rushden 37 65.36x
St Marylebone London 36 1.50x
Plumstead 35 6.84x
Chelsea London 33 2.43x
Tottenham 33 4.61x
Battersea 32 1.93x
Walsall Foreign 32 4.08x
Aston 29 0.93x
Halstead 29 27.99x
Liskeard 29 34.03x
Reigate Foreign 29 12.22x
Bromley London 28 2.83x
Lyncombe Widcombe 28 14.77x
Mile End Old Town 28 3.94x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 27 3.25x
Horley 26 70.77x
Camberwell 25 0.87x
Icklesham 25 187.27x
Ninfield 25 269.11x
Badwell Ash 24 350.37x
Hastings St Mary 24 12.71x
Linkinhorne 24 67.64x
Little Bromley 24 413.08x
Northiam 24 129.03x
Watford 24 9.98x
Hackney London 23 0.91x
Hastings St Mary In The 23 14.21x
Nottingham St Mary 22 1.40x
Plymouth St Andrew 22 3.05x
Kensington London 21 0.84x
Shoreditch London 21 1.08x
Worth 21 38.13x
Exning 20 72.31x
Lezant 19 166.96x
Walcot 19 4.93x
Darlington 18 3.48x
East Grinstead 18 16.76x
Exeter St Mary Steps 18 85.19x
Southampton St Mary 18 3.10x
Greenwich 16 2.23x
Hooe 16 220.99x
Poplar London 16 1.88x
Preston 16 148.70x
Turvey 16 108.70x
West Looe 16 119.31x
Ashley Cum Silverley 15 200.53x
Betchworth 15 55.47x
Bethnal Green London 15 0.77x
Cheddar 15 41.16x
Christchurch 15 7.50x
Hargrave 15 231.84x
Paddington London 15 0.91x
St George Hanover 15 2.55x
Winterbourne 15 30.76x
Witherslack 15 178.78x
Bexhill 14 37.03x
Fordham 14 76.09x
Leicester St Mary 14 3.47x
Newington 14 0.84x
Pickworth 14 538.46x
Sheffield 14 0.99x
South Stoneham 14 7.00x
Southwark St George Martyr 14 1.55x
Tipton 14 3.01x
West Bromwich 14 1.61x
Bradford 13 5.20x
Hampstead London 13 1.86x
Hundon 13 95.17x
Marsh Chapel 13 146.73x
Stoke Upon Trent 13 0.81x
Wolverhampton 13 1.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 241
Elizabeth 162
Sarah 156
Emma 85
Ann 82
Eliza 80
Alice 76
Annie 76
Ellen 75
Emily 73
Jane 71
Caroline 40
Harriet 39
Louisa 38
Charlotte 37
Fanny 36
Maria 34
Hannah 32
Ada 30
Florence 30
Clara 29
Susan 26
Kate 25
Martha 25
Catherine 23
Edith 22
Frances 19
Margaret 19
Agnes 18
Harriett 16
Rose 15
Amelia 14
Anne 14
Esther 13
Lucy 13
Minnie 13
Sophia 13
Ethel 12
Helen 12
Rebecca 12
Susannah 12
Amy 11
Matilda 11
Grace 10
Laura 10
Bessie 8
Jessie 8
Anna 7
Isabella 7
Nellie 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 281
John 235
George 200
Thomas 134
James 126
Charles 123
Henry 99
Alfred 73
Joseph 61
Frederick 58
Richard 52
Robert 48
Arthur 47
Samuel 41
Edward 38
Walter 38
Harry 35
Ernest 26
Albert 25
Edwin 21
Herbert 20
Frank 15
Daniel 13
Francis 12
Fred 11
Fredk. 11
Benjamin 8
David 8
Fredrick 8
Thos. 8
Willm. 8
Wm. 8
Percy 7
Sidney 7
Stephen 7
Willie 7
Mark 6
Matthew 6
Sydney 6
Chas. 5
Edgar 5
Isaac 5
Leonard 5
Louis 5
Philip 5
T. 5
Amos 4
Christopher 4
Frederic 4
Geo. 4

FAQ

Sargent surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sargent surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,600 people were recorded with the Sargent surname. That placed it at #973 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sargent surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,118 in 2016. That gives Sargent a modern rank of #1,107.

What does the Sargent surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a servant or attendant.

What does the Sargent map show?

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