NameCensus.

UK surname

Sarjeant

A surname derived from an occupational term for a sergeant or officer of the law.

In the 1881 census there were 255 people recorded with the Sarjeant surname, ranking it #10,924 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 272, ranked #15,832, down from #10,924 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bampton, London parishes and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tunbridge Wells, East Hampshire and North East Derbyshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sarjeant is 324 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.7%.

1881 census count

255

Ranked #10,924

Modern count

272

2016, ranked #15,832

Peak year

2002

324 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sarjeant had 255 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,924 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 272 in 2016, ranked #15,832.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 255 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Sarjeant surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sarjeant surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sarjeant 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 193 #10,704
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 255 #10,924
1891 historical 132 #19,976
1901 historical 222 #14,169
1911 historical 198 #15,058
1997 modern 294 #13,707
1998 modern 317 #13,392
1999 modern 302 #13,895
2000 modern 320 #13,360
2001 modern 310 #13,452
2002 modern 324 #13,305
2003 modern 317 #13,328
2004 modern 313 #13,502
2005 modern 311 #13,490
2006 modern 319 #13,318
2007 modern 309 #13,760
2008 modern 314 #13,720
2009 modern 304 #14,287
2010 modern 293 #14,974
2011 modern 292 #14,863
2012 modern 285 #15,050
2013 modern 285 #15,313
2014 modern 285 #15,416
2015 modern 283 #15,380
2016 modern 272 #15,832

Geography

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Where Sarjeants are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bampton, London parishes, St James Clerkenwell, Bridgnorth St Leonard and St Mary Magdalen and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tunbridge Wells, East Hampshire, North East Derbyshire and Daventry. 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 Bampton Westmorland
2 London parishes London 3
3 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
4 Bridgnorth St Leonard and St Mary Magdalen Shropshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tunbridge Wells 002 Tunbridge Wells
2 East Hampshire 012 East Hampshire
3 Tunbridge Wells 004 Tunbridge Wells
4 North East Derbyshire 001 North East Derbyshire
5 Daventry 005 Daventry

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sarjeant

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sarjeant

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Sarjeant is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Sarjeant is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sarjeant falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sarjeant is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Sarjeant, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sarjeant

The surname Sarjeant originated in England during the medieval period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old French word "sergent," meaning "servant" or "officer." The name was given to those who held positions of authority or service in royal or noble households, towns, or the military.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, references are made to individuals with the surname Sarjeant, such as Robert le Serjant and William le Serjant. The Domesday Book of 1086 does not mention the name, as it emerged later in the Middle Ages.

During the 14th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, which listed individuals like Johannes Sariant and Ricardus Seriaunte. The Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327 also mentioned a William le Serjant.

Over time, the name evolved and was spelled in different ways, such as Sarjant, Serjant, and Sargent. In the 16th century, the spelling Sarjeant became more common, reflecting the French influence on the English language during this period.

Notable individuals with the surname Sarjeant include:

1. John Sarjeant (c. 1510-1563), an English Member of Parliament from Wiltshire. 2. Thomas Sarjeant (c. 1535-1617), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Denton, Norfolk. 3. William Sarjeant (c. 1570-1640), an English composer and organist who worked at the Chapel Royal. 4. John Sarjeant (1635-1707), an English lawyer and author known for his work on maritime law. 5. Robert Sarjeant (1692-1777), an English architect and surveyor who designed several churches and buildings in London.

The surname Sarjeant has maintained its presence throughout English history, with various branches and families carrying the name across different regions of the country. It reflects the longstanding tradition of occupational surnames in England, particularly those associated with positions of service and authority.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sarjeant families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sarjeant 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. Westmorland leads with 27 Sarjeants recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.01x.

County Total Index
Westmorland 27 49.01x
Staffordshire 22 2.60x
Northamptonshire 21 8.91x
Warwickshire 19 3.01x
Cornwall 17 5.99x
Sussex 17 4.02x
Shropshire 16 7.39x
Essex 15 3.03x
Middlesex 15 0.60x
Norfolk 10 2.59x
Devon 9 1.72x
Cambridgeshire 8 5.04x
Huntingdonshire 8 16.07x
Surrey 7 0.57x
Dorset 6 3.65x
Bedfordshire 5 3.85x
Somerset 5 1.24x
Yorkshire 5 0.20x
Lanarkshire 4 0.49x
Nottinghamshire 4 1.18x
Cheshire 3 0.54x
Lancashire 3 0.10x
Suffolk 3 0.98x
Durham 2 0.27x
Kent 2 0.23x
Lincolnshire 2 0.50x
Rutland 1 5.43x
Wiltshire 1 0.45x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bampton in Westmorland leads with 18 Sarjeants recorded in 1881 and an index of 3829.79x.

Place Total Index
Bampton 18 3829.79x
Birmingham 13 6.17x
Rothwell 12 506.33x
Stoke Climsland 12 662.98x
Brighton 11 12.90x
Thorpe Abbotts 9 4736.84x
Enfield 8 48.63x
Somersham 8 661.16x
Stafford St Mary 8 66.78x
Burton Upon Trent 7 35.35x
Halstead 6 103.99x
Highweek 6 322.58x
Newport 6 229.89x
Tarrant Keynston 6 2608.70x
Tolleshunt D Arcy 6 857.14x
Great Strickland 5 2083.33x
Rotherhithe 5 16.14x
Turvey 5 609.76x
Walsall Foreign 5 11.44x
All Saints Cambridge 4 357.14x
Bedminster 4 10.55x
Broseley 4 103.90x
Cottenham 4 189.57x
Edgbaston 4 20.41x
Glasgow 4 2.78x
Heeley 4 52.98x
Lowther 4 1000.00x
Rame 4 547.95x
Torworth 4 2105.26x
Broughton In Salford 3 11.03x
Chelsea London 3 3.97x
Kingsthorpe 3 114.50x
Wartling 3 588.24x
Worfield 3 200.00x
Aston 2 1.15x
Brewood 2 81.97x
Bury St Edmunds St James 2 24.51x
Chetwynd 2 285.71x
Cliffe 2 139.86x
Esh 2 36.83x
Hammersmith London 2 3.24x
Peterborough 2 11.72x
Stoke 2 34.72x
Stoke Damerel 2 5.48x
Timperley 2 104.17x
Weedon Beck 2 118.34x
West Ham 2 1.83x
Winteringham 2 344.83x
Woolwich 2 6.33x
Bath St James 1 23.75x
Bergh Apton 1 250.00x
Brentwood 1 33.11x
Calstock 1 17.95x
Huddersfield 1 2.76x
Middlewich 1 87.72x
Much Wenlock 1 50.00x
Paston 1 100.00x
Patching 1 416.67x
St Pancras London 1 0.50x
Stratford Under Castle 1 370.37x
Sudbury St Gregory 1 40.82x
Uppingham 1 45.66x
Wellingborough 1 8.43x
Whitechapel London 1 4.05x
Wolborough 1 15.15x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Sarah 10
Jane 9
Elizabeth 8
Emma 6
Ellen 5
Emily 5
Agnes 4
Eliza 4
Annie 3
Hannah 3
Isabella 3
Martha 3
Alice 2
Ann 2
Edith 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
Grace 2
Louisa 2
Susan 2
Betsy 1
Christina 1
Cicey 1
E.Mary 1
Eliz. 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Jane 1
Francis 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Henrietta 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lillian 1
Lizzie 1
Margret 1
Maria 1
Matilda 1
Minnie 1
Miriam 1
Nellie 1
Phoebe 1
Rachel 1
Rebecca 1
Rose 1
Rosenna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 12
John 11
Joseph 11
William 9
James 7
George 6
Richard 5
Arthur 4
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Frank 3
Samuel 3
Thomas 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Saml. 2
Stephen 2
Bob 1
Charles 1
Chester 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edwd.J. 1
Elizabeth 1
Enoch 1
Ernest 1
Evan 1
Francis 1
Frederic 1
Horace 1
Ibbott 1
Jessie 1
Job 1
Mounsey 1
Page 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Thos.Arthur 1
Thos.E. 1
Tom 1
Watkin 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Sarjeant surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sarjeant surname in 1881?

In 1881, 255 people were recorded with the Sarjeant surname. That placed it at #10,924 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sarjeant surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 272 in 2016. That gives Sarjeant a modern rank of #15,832.

What does the Sarjeant surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupational term for a sergeant or officer of the law.

What does the Sarjeant map show?

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