NameCensus.

UK surname

Sault

A placename for those from a place called Sault.

In the 1881 census there were 176 people recorded with the Sault surname, ranking it #13,930 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 340, ranked #13,456, up from #13,930 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wolverhampton and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Walsall, Cannock Chase and South Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sault is 393 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 93.2%.

1881 census count

176

Ranked #13,930

Modern count

340

2016, ranked #13,456

Peak year

2000

393 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sault had 176 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,930 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 340 in 2016, ranked #13,456.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 298 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sault surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sault surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sault 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 85 #18,940
1861 historical 77 #23,975
1881 historical 176 #13,930
1891 historical 167 #17,006
1901 historical 243 #13,358
1911 historical 298 #11,505
1997 modern 361 #11,892
1998 modern 373 #11,991
1999 modern 383 #11,823
2000 modern 393 #11,540
2001 modern 376 #11,753
2002 modern 377 #11,962
2003 modern 368 #11,963
2004 modern 361 #12,175
2005 modern 367 #11,956
2006 modern 369 #11,965
2007 modern 367 #12,152
2008 modern 357 #12,509
2009 modern 359 #12,714
2010 modern 373 #12,628
2011 modern 378 #12,363
2012 modern 352 #12,913
2013 modern 351 #13,159
2014 modern 348 #13,320
2015 modern 340 #13,455
2016 modern 340 #13,456

Geography

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Where Saults are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Wolverhampton, London parishes, Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars 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 Walsall, Cannock Chase, South Staffordshire and Wiltshire. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Walsall 002 Walsall
2 Walsall 001 Walsall
3 Cannock Chase 013 Cannock Chase
4 South Staffordshire 004 South Staffordshire
5 Wiltshire 025 Wiltshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sault

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sault

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

Professional Periphery

Within London, Sault is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

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

Sault is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sault falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sault is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sault

The surname Sault has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'saulte', meaning a salt marsh or a salt pit. The name was initially used to denote someone who lived near a salt marsh or worked in the salt-making industry.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the earliest known record of the name appears as 'de Saulte', referring to a place name in Staffordshire. This suggests that the name was already established in England before the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Sault was William de Saulte, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199. Another early record is that of Robert de Sault, who lived in Oxfordshire in the 13th century.

During the medieval period, the name was also associated with various place names, such as Saultmarshe and Saultby, which were derived from the Old English 'saulte' and meant 'salt marsh' or 'salt farm'.

Sir Henry Sault, a prominent English gentleman who lived in the 16th century (c. 1520-1585), was knighted for his services to the Crown. He served as a member of parliament and held significant land holdings in Staffordshire.

In the 17th century, John Sault (1632-1702) was a renowned English mathematician and astronomer. He made notable contributions to the development of calculus and the study of celestial mechanics.

Another notable figure was Sir William Sault (1745-1821), a British naval officer who played a crucial role in several battles during the Napoleonic Wars. He was honored for his bravery and tactical skills, rising through the ranks to become an Admiral of the Fleet.

During the 19th century, Charles Sault (1825-1898) was a prominent English architect known for his work on several churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

The surname Sault has also been found in various parts of the world, likely due to migration and the spread of English settlers. However, its roots can be traced back to the salt marshes and salt-making industries of medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sault families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sault 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. Warwickshire leads with 36 Saults recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.71x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 36 8.71x
Leicestershire 35 19.26x
Middlesex 31 1.89x
Derbyshire 15 5.85x
Surrey 12 1.50x
Cheshire 11 3.04x
Renfrewshire 6 4.72x
Yorkshire 6 0.37x
Staffordshire 3 0.54x
Worcestershire 3 1.40x
Essex 2 0.62x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.91x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.66x
Berkshire 1 0.81x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.01x
Durham 1 0.21x
Lancashire 1 0.05x
Suffolk 1 0.50x

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 31 Saults recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.51x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 31 22.51x
Ripley 15 473.19x
Islington London 11 6.93x
Newington 11 18.17x
Stockport 10 53.73x
Limehouse London 9 50.03x
Leicester St Margaret 8 18.06x
Belton 6 2608.70x
Leicester All Sts 6 168.07x
Paisley Middle Church 6 81.19x
Aston 5 4.39x
Bethnal Green London 5 7.02x
Long Whatton 5 1282.05x
Sutton Stoneferry 5 107.53x
Ashby De La Zouch 3 71.26x
Bromsgrove 3 41.67x
Wymeswold 3 566.04x
Belgrave 2 48.78x
Bromley London 2 5.55x
Clerkenwell London 2 5.17x
Normanton On Soar 2 1111.11x
South Shoebury 2 153.85x
Wigston Magna 2 82.99x
Aberdeen Old Machar 1 3.16x
Beaconsfield 1 108.70x
Birkenhead 1 3.47x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 18.76x
Handsworth 1 7.34x
Hartlepool 1 14.43x
Hemsworth 1 107.53x
Paddington London 1 1.66x
Pendlebury 1 24.33x
Putney 1 13.39x
St George Hanover 1 4.68x
Walsall Borough 1 23.31x
Wantage 1 51.02x
Wednesfield 1 12.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 12
Thomas 6
William 6
Joseph 5
Charles 4
Alfred 3
James 3
Andrew 2
Benjamin 2
Edward 2
George 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Alick 1
Arthur 1
Chas. 1
D. 1
Daniel 1
Ernest 1
Gutteridge 1
H. 1
Harry 1
J. 1
Jabez 1
Lewis 1
Michael 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Simmeon 1
Stanley 1
Thos.C. 1
Thos.E. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Sault surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sault surname in 1881?

In 1881, 176 people were recorded with the Sault surname. That placed it at #13,930 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sault surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 340 in 2016. That gives Sault a modern rank of #13,456.

What does the Sault surname mean?

A placename for those from a place called Sault.

What does the Sault map show?

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