NameCensus.

UK surname

Sauer

An occupational surname of German origin referring to someone who made or sold fermented foods, such as pickles or sauerkraut.

In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Sauer surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 126, ranked #26,686, up from #28,715 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Walthamstow, Low Leyton and Margate. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Westminster, Lambeth and Kingston upon Thames.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sauer is 130 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 260.0%.

1881 census count

35

Ranked #28,715

Modern count

126

2016, ranked #26,686

Peak year

2013

130 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sauer had 35 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #28,715 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016, ranked #26,686.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 117 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Sauer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sauer surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sauer 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 6 #32,278
1861 historical 10 #32,589
1881 historical 35 #28,715
1891 historical 42 #31,018
1901 historical 117 #20,830
1911 historical 51 #27,708
1997 modern 103 #26,498
1998 modern 108 #26,417
1999 modern 110 #26,315
2000 modern 122 #24,698
2001 modern 117 #24,974
2002 modern 102 #27,596
2003 modern 106 #26,775
2004 modern 113 #25,999
2005 modern 106 #27,044
2006 modern 104 #27,646
2007 modern 114 #26,491
2008 modern 123 #25,505
2009 modern 126 #25,686
2010 modern 126 #26,312
2011 modern 127 #25,926
2012 modern 127 #25,992
2013 modern 130 #26,074
2014 modern 128 #26,490
2015 modern 126 #26,654
2016 modern 126 #26,686

Geography

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Where Sauers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Walthamstow, Low Leyton, Margate and West Derby. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Westminster, Lambeth, Kingston upon Thames, Sutton and Peterborough. 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 Walthamstow, Low Leyton Essex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Margate Kent
5 West Derby Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Westminster 011 Westminster
2 Lambeth 032 Lambeth
3 Kingston upon Thames 002 Kingston upon Thames
4 Sutton 007 Sutton
5 Peterborough 008 Peterborough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sauer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sauer

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sauer, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Sauer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Sauer 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Sauer 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

Sauer is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sauer falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sauer 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Sauer

The surname SAUER has its origins in Germany and dates back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Middle High German word "sur," meaning sour or bitter, and was likely initially used as a nickname for someone with a sharp or sour disposition.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus Anhaltinus, a collection of historical documents from the Anhalt region of Germany, dating back to the 13th century. The name Sauer appears several times in these records, indicating its presence in the area during that time period.

The name SAUER also has connections to various place names throughout Germany, such as Sauerlach in Bavaria and Sauerland in North Rhine-Westphalia. These place names may have influenced the spread and adoption of the surname in those regions.

Notable individuals with the surname SAUER include the German astronomer Johann Sauer (1545-1611), who made significant contributions to the study of comets and the development of astronomical instruments. Another prominent figure was the German artist and printmaker Georg Sauer (1617-1667), known for his intricate etchings and engravings.

In the 18th century, Johann Sauer (1695-1768) was a renowned printer and publisher in Germantown, Pennsylvania, famous for printing the first German-language Bible in America in 1743. This publication played a vital role in preserving the German language and culture among early German settlers in North America.

Continuing into the 19th century, Christoph Sauer (1795-1865) was a German-American journalist and publisher who founded several influential German-language newspapers in the United States, including the Baltimore Wecker and the Philadelphia Demokrat.

Another notable figure was the German-American author and philosopher Carl Sauer (1889-1975), who made significant contributions to the field of cultural geography and is considered one of the founders of the Berkeley School of Geography.

Throughout its history, the surname SAUER has been carried by individuals from various professions and backgrounds, spanning the fields of science, arts, publishing, and academia, among others.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sauer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sauer 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 13 Sauers recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.81x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 13 3.81x
Lancashire 9 2.22x
Surrey 5 3.01x
Staffordshire 4 3.47x
Sussex 2 3.48x
Midlothian 1 2.19x
Norfolk 1 1.91x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Derby in Lancashire leads with 9 Sauers recorded in 1881 and an index of 75.95x.

Place Total Index
West Derby 9 75.95x
Bethnal Green London 6 40.49x
Camberwell 5 22.94x
Stoke Upon Trent 3 24.57x
Brighton 2 17.23x
Limehouse London 2 53.33x
St Andrew Holborn 2 172.41x
Diss 1 222.22x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 5.44x
Hackney London 1 5.23x
Islington London 1 3.02x
St Pancras London 1 3.64x
Whittington 1 416.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
A. 1
Elizabeth 1
Ellen 1
Emily 1
Georgian 1
Matilda 1
Maud 1
Minna 1
Rosalin 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Henry 4
George 3
Ferdinand 2
Godfrey 2
John 2
Adam 1
Alexander 1
Ernest 1
Jacob 1
Joseph 1
Lowes 1
Melchiser 1
Peter 1
Sebastian 1
Wilhelm 1

Top occupations

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 Sauer households.

FAQ

Sauer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sauer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Sauer surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sauer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 126 in 2016. That gives Sauer a modern rank of #26,686.

What does the Sauer surname mean?

An occupational surname of German origin referring to someone who made or sold fermented foods, such as pickles or sauerkraut.

What does the Sauer map show?

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