UK surname
A derived form of the Old French word "sauvage" meaning wild or from the wilderness.
In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Sauage surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12, ranked #37,385, down from #34,027 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Port Glasgow, Largs and Doddington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sauage is 116 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1100.0%.
1881 census count
1
Ranked #34,027
Modern count
12
2016, ranked #37,385
Peak year
1861
116 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sauage surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sauage surname density by area, 1861 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 | 7 | #32,070 |
| 1861 | historical | 116 | #18,751 |
| 1881 | historical | 1 | #34,027 |
| 1891 | historical | 66 | #28,541 |
| 1901 | historical | 21 | #31,686 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 4 | #38,100 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 6 | #37,456 |
| 2002 | modern | 6 | #37,532 |
| 2003 | modern | 9 | #37,101 |
| 2004 | modern | 15 | #36,530 |
| 2005 | modern | 15 | #36,621 |
| 2006 | modern | 13 | #36,902 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 16 | #36,766 |
| 2009 | modern | 16 | #36,850 |
| 2010 | modern | 20 | #36,599 |
| 2011 | modern | 17 | #36,839 |
| 2012 | modern | 13 | #37,169 |
| 2013 | modern | 13 | #37,224 |
| 2014 | modern | 14 | #37,161 |
| 2015 | modern | 12 | #37,371 |
| 2016 | modern | 12 | #37,385 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Port Glasgow, Largs, Doddington, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars and Titchfield. 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 | Port Glasgow | Renfrew |
| 2 | Largs | Ayr |
| 3 | Doddington | Cambridgeshire |
| 4 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| 5 | Titchfield | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sauage 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 Sauage, 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 Sauage surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sauage 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, Sauage 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 Sauage is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sauage, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Sauage is of French origin, deriving from the Old French word "sauvage," meaning "wild" or "untamed." It first emerged in the late 11th century, during the period of the Norman conquest of England.
The name is believed to have been initially bestowed as a descriptive nickname upon individuals who displayed a wild or uncivilized demeanor or lived in remote, untamed regions. This practice of assigning surnames based on personal characteristics or occupations was common during the Middle Ages.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sauage can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population across England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry refers to a certain "Radulfus Sauvagius," suggesting the presence of individuals bearing this surname in the immediate aftermath of the Norman conquest.
In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, such as "Sauvage," "Savage," and "Sauuage," reflecting the evolving spellings and regional variations of the time. Notable bearers of the name during this period include Sir Roger Savage, a prominent English knight who served under King Edward I and participated in the Scottish Wars of Independence in the late 13th century.
The Savage family of Cheshire, England, can trace their lineage back to the 12th century, with Sir John Savage (c. 1350-1396) being a distinguished member who served as a knight in the service of King Richard II. His son, Sir John Savage (c. 1380-1455), further enhanced the family's prominence by serving as a military commander and castellan during the Hundred Years' War.
In the 16th century, the name Sauage gained prominence through the exploits of Sir Thomas Sauage (c. 1510-1584), an English soldier and courtier who served under King Henry VIII and played a crucial role in the suppression of the Pilgrimage of Grace, a major uprising against the king's policies.
Another notable figure bearing the surname Sauage was John Savage (1673-1701), an English clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and philosophy, including "The Author to be Let" and "A Vindication of the Principles of the Cyprianic Age."
The Sauage surname has also been associated with various place names across England, such as Savage Green in Hampshire and Savage Hall in Cheshire, further reflecting its deep-rooted presence in the country's history and geography.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sauage 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. Derbyshire leads with 1 Sauages recorded in 1881 and an index of 66.23x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Derbyshire | 1 | 66.23x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eckington in Derbyshire leads with 1 Sauages recorded in 1881 and an index of 2500.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Eckington | 1 | 2500.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sauage surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Maria | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Sauage surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 12 in 2016. That gives Sauage a modern rank of #37,385.
A derived form of the Old French word "sauvage" meaning wild or from the wilderness.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sauage 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.