NameCensus.

UK surname

Sarson

A variant of the surname Sargeson, derived from the Old Norman name Sarra and meaning a Saracen.

In the 1881 census there were 421 people recorded with the Sarson surname, ranking it #7,681 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 619, ranked #8,506, down from #7,681 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rearsby, Belgrave and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Basingstoke and Deane, Cheshire East and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sarson is 679 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.0%.

1881 census count

421

Ranked #7,681

Modern count

619

2016, ranked #8,506

Peak year

1911

679 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sarson had 421 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,681 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 619 in 2016, ranked #8,506.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 679 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sarson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sarson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sarson 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 322 #7,215
1861 historical 271 #9,193
1881 historical 421 #7,681
1891 historical 543 #6,951
1901 historical 633 #6,780
1911 historical 679 #6,225
1997 modern 633 #7,827
1998 modern 633 #8,076
1999 modern 645 #8,007
2000 modern 659 #7,852
2001 modern 653 #7,772
2002 modern 660 #7,857
2003 modern 628 #8,032
2004 modern 629 #8,041
2005 modern 610 #8,176
2006 modern 605 #8,236
2007 modern 607 #8,278
2008 modern 607 #8,330
2009 modern 628 #8,299
2010 modern 645 #8,294
2011 modern 633 #8,333
2012 modern 620 #8,373
2013 modern 626 #8,448
2014 modern 634 #8,421
2015 modern 624 #8,460
2016 modern 619 #8,506

Geography

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Where Sarsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rearsby, Belgrave, London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Basingstoke and Deane, Cheshire East, Doncaster, East Staffordshire and Stockton-on-Tees. 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 Rearsby Leicestershire
2 Belgrave Leicestershire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Basingstoke and Deane 020 Basingstoke and Deane
2 Cheshire East 045 Cheshire East
3 Doncaster 006 Doncaster
4 East Staffordshire 010 East Staffordshire
5 Stockton-on-Tees 009 Stockton-on-Tees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sarson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sarson

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sarson is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Sarson is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Sarson

The surname SARSON is of English origin, deriving from the Middle English personal name "Sarson," which itself is a diminutive form of the name "Saer," meaning "carpenter" or "maker." This occupational surname first emerged in the county of Yorkshire during the 13th century.

The earliest recorded instance of the SARSON surname can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where one Richard Sareson is listed. This spelling variation highlights the fluid nature of surnames during the Middle Ages, as standardized spellings had not yet been established.

In the 16th century, the surname appears in various parish records across Yorkshire, often spelled as "Sarsonne" or "Sarsun." One notable example is Richard Sarsonne, a farmer from the village of Ripley, who was born around 1520 and died in 1587.

The SARSON surname is also found in the Domesday Book of 1086, though under the spelling "Sareson." This entry refers to a landowner named Goisfrid Sareson, who held estates in Lincolnshire.

As the surname spread beyond Yorkshire, it took on various spellings, including "Sarsen," "Sarsyn," and "Sarsin." One noteworthy individual was John Sarson, born in 1612 in the village of Darrington, Yorkshire. He later became a prominent merchant in London and was involved in the Virginia Company, which played a crucial role in the early colonization of North America.

Another individual of note is William Sarson, born in 1732 in the town of Beverley, Yorkshire. He was a renowned clockmaker and his intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the nobility of the time.

In the 19th century, the SARSON surname gained further recognition with the birth of James Sarson (1822-1892), a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel.

The name SARSON has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Sarson's Lane in Nottinghamshire and Sarson's Farm in Derbyshire, both of which likely derived from early SARSON settlers in those regions.

While the SARSON surname has maintained its roots in England, it has also been carried across the globe by English emigrants, with descendants bearing the name found in countries such as Australia, Canada, and the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sarson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sarson 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. Leicestershire leads with 207 Sarsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.12x.

County Total Index
Leicestershire 207 46.12x
Middlesex 56 1.38x
Lancashire 28 0.58x
Yorkshire 23 0.57x
Derbyshire 17 2.68x
Cheshire 11 1.23x
Lincolnshire 11 1.70x
Kent 10 0.72x
Buckinghamshire 7 2.86x
Hertfordshire 7 2.51x
Surrey 7 0.35x
Sussex 7 1.03x
Staffordshire 6 0.44x
Herefordshire 5 3.01x
Worcestershire 4 0.76x
Northumberland 3 0.50x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.37x
Bedfordshire 1 0.48x
Essex 1 0.13x
Northamptonshire 1 0.26x
Royal Navy 1 2.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leicester St Margaret in Leicestershire leads with 67 Sarsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.22x.

Place Total Index
Leicester St Margaret 67 61.22x
Syston 25 595.24x
Rearsby 19 2878.79x
Shoreditch London 19 10.83x
Leicester St Mary 17 46.88x
Nether Hallam 12 22.11x
Thurmaston 10 1265.82x
Stanley 9 769.23x
Tranmere 9 27.41x
Brightside Bierlow 8 10.17x
Hopwood 8 127.39x
Islington London 8 2.04x
Lutterworth 8 291.97x
Burnham 7 224.36x
Elstree 7 760.87x
Hasland 7 108.53x
Manchester 7 3.24x
St Martin In Fields 7 28.88x
Bitteswell 6 1200.00x
Burton Upon Trent 6 18.77x
Hastings St Mary In The 6 41.21x
Leicester Black Friars 6 205.48x
Asfordby 5 666.67x
Aymestrey 5 555.56x
Eastwell 5 2173.91x
Orlestone 5 877.19x
Ruskington 5 303.03x
South Croxton 5 1428.57x
Whitechapel London 5 12.53x
Chorlton On Medlock 4 5.24x
Helpringham 4 307.69x
Sileby 4 141.34x
Willesden 4 10.48x
Clerkenwell London 3 3.14x
Deptford St Paul 3 2.82x
Haltwhistle 3 102.74x
Keyham 3 750.00x
Kibworth Harcourt 3 483.87x
Leicester St Nicholas 3 118.11x
Liverpool 3 1.03x
Misterton 3 447.76x
Southwark St George Martyr 3 3.68x
St Marylebone London 3 1.39x
Wandsworth 3 7.70x
Aylestone 2 56.50x
Birkenhead 2 2.81x
Chatham 2 5.26x
Edmonton 2 6.13x
Hackney London 2 0.88x
Holy Trinity 2 2.07x
Leigh 2 31.15x
Loughborough 2 9.82x
Mile End Old Town 2 3.13x
Narborough 2 162.60x
Toxteth Park 2 1.23x
Anstey 1 56.50x
Ashby De La Zouch 1 9.62x
Bethnal Green London 1 0.57x
Cheetham 1 2.79x
Derby St Werburgh 1 2.73x
Gaddesby 1 303.03x
Grays Thurrock 1 13.46x
Great Malvern 1 9.07x
Hulme 1 1.00x
Humberstone 1 27.10x
Kings Norton 1 2.11x
Kirby Bellars 1 263.16x
Knighton 1 39.53x
Leicester St Martin 1 33.22x
Little Bowden 1 75.19x
Nottingham St Mary 1 0.71x
Nottingham St Peter 1 16.45x
Oldham 1 0.65x
Royal Navy 1 2.42x
South Bersted 1 17.24x
Temple Bruer 1 357.14x
Tetford 1 121.95x
Thrussington 1 119.05x
West Derby 1 0.71x
Woodhouse 1 56.18x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 36
John 28
Thomas 18
Joseph 17
Henry 11
George 10
Edward 7
Robert 7
Arthur 6
Charles 6
James 6
Edwin 5
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Amos 2
Benjamin 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Hiram 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Samuel 2
Sidney 2
Valentine 2
Walter 2
A.B. 1
Alemeth 1
Arnold 1
Ben 1
Bertie 1
Charlotte 1
Elijah 1
Emmanuel 1
Fredk.Jas. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Ignatius 1
Isaac 1
Jno. 1
Jonathon 1
Mathew 1
Maurice 1
Michael 1
Oliver 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Sarson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sarson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 421 people were recorded with the Sarson surname. That placed it at #7,681 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sarson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 619 in 2016. That gives Sarson a modern rank of #8,506.

What does the Sarson surname mean?

A variant of the surname Sargeson, derived from the Old Norman name Sarra and meaning a Saracen.

What does the Sarson map show?

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