NameCensus.

UK surname

Savage

An English surname derived from the Old French sauvage, meaning "wild" or "untamed," likely referring to a fierce or brave person.

In the 1881 census there were 11,457 people recorded with the Savage surname, ranking it #375 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 17,037, ranked #364, up from #375 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Sheffield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Caerphilly and Sheffield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Savage is 17,567 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.7%.

1881 census count

11,457

Ranked #375

Modern count

17,037

2016, ranked #364

Peak year

1999

17,567 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Savage had 11,457 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #375 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 17,037 in 2016, ranked #364.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 15,012 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Savage surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Savage surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Savage 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 7,432 #379
1861 historical 7,439 #382
1881 historical 11,457 #375
1891 historical 12,075 #368
1901 historical 14,474 #366
1911 historical 15,012 #326
1997 modern 16,769 #356
1998 modern 17,511 #356
1999 modern 17,567 #357
2000 modern 17,355 #358
2001 modern 17,004 #358
2002 modern 17,416 #358
2003 modern 16,819 #361
2004 modern 16,831 #361
2005 modern 16,528 #362
2006 modern 16,499 #362
2007 modern 16,537 #365
2008 modern 16,602 #365
2009 modern 16,981 #364
2010 modern 17,414 #363
2011 modern 17,094 #365
2012 modern 16,735 #366
2013 modern 17,241 #363
2014 modern 17,348 #363
2015 modern 17,127 #366
2016 modern 17,037 #364

Geography

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Where Savages are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Caerphilly, Sheffield, Warrington and Stroud. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 017 County Durham
2 Caerphilly 002 Caerphilly
3 Sheffield 039 Sheffield
4 Warrington 008 Warrington
5 Stroud 012 Stroud

Forenames

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First names often paired with Savage

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Savage

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

Savage is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Savage falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Savage 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 Savage, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Savage

The surname Savage is believed to have originated in France, specifically in the northern regions of Normandy and Brittany. It is derived from the Old French word "salvage," which means "wild" or "untamed." This surname likely emerged during the Middle Ages, around the 11th or 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Savage can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Salvage," "Sauvage," and "Salvagius."

The Savage surname subsequently spread across England, particularly in the counties of Suffolk, Norfolk, and Kent. It is believed that many individuals bearing this surname were descendants of Norman settlers who arrived in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.

One notable historical figure with the surname Savage was Sir John Savage (c. 1350-1398), a famous English knight and military commander who served under King Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. He was known for his bravery and military exploits, particularly in the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

Another prominent individual was Thomas Savage (c. 1425-1505), who served as the Archbishop of York from 1501 until his death. He was a prominent figure in the English church and played a crucial role in the events surrounding the Wars of the Roses.

In the 16th century, Sir Thomas Savage (1551-1615) was a renowned English soldier and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Ulster in Ireland. He was instrumental in establishing English control over parts of Ulster during the Plantation of Ulster.

During the 17th century, Richard Savage (1697-1743) was an English poet and playwright. Despite being born into poverty, he gained recognition for his literary works, including the tragedy "Sir Thomas Overbury" and the satirical work "The Wanderer."

Another notable figure was Michael Savage (1754-1817), an Irish-born American revolutionary and soldier who served in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He played a significant role in several battles, including the Battle of Germantown and the Battle of Monmouth.

The Savage surname was also present in various place names across England, such as Savage's Court in Kent, Savage's Green in Hertfordshire, and Savage's Park in Shropshire. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the Savage surname who owned or resided in those locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Savage families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Savage 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 1,413 Savages recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.26x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,413 1.26x
Lancashire 1,044 0.78x
Yorkshire 912 0.82x
Warwickshire 697 2.46x
Surrey 651 1.19x
Hampshire 529 2.30x
Kent 483 1.26x
Norfolk 406 2.35x
Nottinghamshire 396 2.62x
Cheshire 319 1.29x
Gloucestershire 312 1.42x
Staffordshire 308 0.81x
Worcestershire 265 1.81x
Lanarkshire 232 0.64x
Sussex 220 1.16x
Durham 219 0.66x
Northamptonshire 208 1.97x
Derbyshire 194 1.10x
Suffolk 192 1.40x
Lincolnshire 179 1.00x
Cumberland 176 1.82x
Hertfordshire 167 2.16x
Somerset 145 0.80x
Oxfordshire 142 2.05x
Cambridgeshire 137 1.93x
Leicestershire 117 0.94x
Essex 114 0.51x
Buckinghamshire 108 1.59x
Westmorland 92 3.73x
Ayrshire 88 1.05x
Northumberland 86 0.52x
Berkshire 84 1.00x
Bedfordshire 81 1.39x
Shropshire 66 0.68x
Montgomeryshire 56 2.18x
Glamorgan 55 0.28x
Wiltshire 49 0.49x
Dorset 46 0.62x
Flintshire 44 1.46x
Renfrewshire 42 0.48x
Angus 41 0.39x
Cornwall 39 0.31x
Devon 36 0.15x
Monmouthshire 36 0.44x
Denbighshire 35 0.83x
Huntingdonshire 32 1.44x
Channel Islands 24 0.72x
Isle of Man 24 1.15x
Midlothian 21 0.14x
Fife 17 0.26x
Royal Navy 14 1.05x
Stirlingshire 13 0.31x
Dunbartonshire 11 0.36x
Herefordshire 10 0.22x
Pembrokeshire 10 0.28x
Wigtownshire 10 0.67x
West Lothian 9 0.53x
Anglesey 7 0.35x
Dumfriesshire 7 0.28x
Aberdeenshire 5 0.05x
Argyllshire 4 0.13x
Buteshire 4 0.59x
Caernarfonshire 4 0.09x
Cardiganshire 3 0.11x
Carmarthenshire 3 0.06x
Peeblesshire 3 0.57x
Nairnshire 2 0.58x
Rutland 2 0.24x
Brecknockshire 1 0.04x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.06x
Merionethshire 1 0.05x
Radnorshire 1 0.11x
Roxburghshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 153 Savages recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.96x.

Place Total Index
Aston 153 1.96x
Birmingham 141 1.49x
Islington London 137 1.26x
Lambeth 127 1.30x
Portsea 122 2.71x
Camberwell 116 1.62x
St Pancras London 114 1.26x
Liverpool 110 1.36x
Bethnal Green London 101 2.07x
St Marylebone London 94 1.57x
Nottingham St Mary 82 2.10x
Glasgow 79 1.23x
Sheffield 73 2.06x
Shoreditch London 69 1.42x
Croydon 67 2.21x
Chelsea London 59 1.74x
Hackney London 58 0.92x
Paddington London 58 1.41x
Ecclesall Bierlow 56 2.48x
Kensington London 53 0.85x
Mile End Old Town 52 2.94x
Salford 52 1.33x
West Ham 52 1.06x
Everton 50 1.18x
Newington 49 1.18x
Hulme 48 1.73x
Manchester 48 0.80x
Southwark St George Martyr 46 2.04x
Battersea 43 1.04x
Birkenhead 43 2.18x
West Derby 43 1.10x
Leamington Priors 42 6.03x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 41 3.96x
Barony 40 0.44x
Blackburn 40 1.13x
Old Stratford 39 24.34x
Bermondsey 38 1.14x
Cleator 38 9.45x
West Bromwich 38 1.75x
Barnsley 36 3.14x
St George Hanover 36 2.46x
Plumstead 35 2.74x
Alcester 34 36.42x
Cannock 34 5.14x
Govan 34 0.38x
Chesterfield 33 5.01x
Deptford St Paul 32 1.08x
East Leake 32 88.15x
Holy Trinity 32 1.20x
Kirkdale 32 1.43x
Preston 32 0.90x
Leicester St Margaret 31 1.02x
Southampton St Mary 31 2.14x
Walkern 31 95.27x
Barrow In Furness 30 1.66x
Brightside Bierlow 29 1.33x
Hornsey 29 2.04x
Loughborough 28 4.96x
Norwich St Clement 28 14.00x
Warrington 28 1.77x
Bootle Cum Linacre 27 2.55x
Sculcoates 27 1.53x
St Luke London 27 1.50x
Titchfield 27 15.57x
Willesden 27 2.55x
Wolverhampton 27 0.93x
Yardley 26 6.93x
Balsall 25 56.54x
Brighton 25 0.65x
Bromley London 25 1.01x
Clerkenwell London 25 0.94x
Enfield 25 3.40x
Fareham 25 9.04x
Hammersmith London 25 0.90x
Hampstead London 25 1.43x
Mansfield 25 4.78x
Oswaldtwistle 25 5.31x
Peterborough 25 3.27x
Tudhoe 25 8.56x
Wookey 24 60.30x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 770
Elizabeth 447
Sarah 408
Ann 200
Jane 199
Eliza 188
Ellen 174
Emma 162
Annie 161
Emily 147
Alice 145
Margaret 108
Martha 103
Hannah 85
Fanny 83
Louisa 80
Harriet 79
Maria 74
Charlotte 61
Florence 61
Ada 59
Caroline 57
Catherine 50
Edith 50
Clara 49
Kate 49
Susan 49
Harriett 43
Lucy 43
Elizth. 39
Agnes 38
Anne 38
Rose 34
Frances 33
Julia 33
Esther 32
Amelia 29
Sophia 26
Rebecca 25
Amy 23
Isabella 23
Minnie 23
Gertrude 22
Matilda 20
Rachel 19
Maud 18
Laura 17
Ruth 17
Selina 17
Susannah 17

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 710
John 641
George 450
Thomas 370
James 340
Charles 244
Henry 231
Robert 178
Joseph 152
Edward 145
Alfred 114
Frederick 108
Arthur 101
Walter 101
Albert 88
Richard 85
Samuel 65
Harry 61
Herbert 43
Francis 40
Wm. 40
Ernest 38
Frank 38
Daniel 35
David 35
Edwin 32
Benjamin 27
Thos. 27
Hugh 25
Fred 21
Patrick 21
Geo. 20
Mark 17
Stephen 17
Fredk. 15
Matthew 13
Chas. 12
Christopher 11
Jeremiah 11
Fredrick 10
Peter 10
Robt. 10
Sidney 9
Tom 9
Willm. 9
Frederic 8
Michael 8
Andrew 7
Josiah 7
Sydney 7

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 Savage households.

FAQ

Savage surname: questions and answers

How common was the Savage surname in 1881?

In 1881, 11,457 people were recorded with the Savage surname. That placed it at #375 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Savage surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 17,037 in 2016. That gives Savage a modern rank of #364.

What does the Savage surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old French sauvage, meaning "wild" or "untamed," likely referring to a fierce or brave person.

What does the Savage map show?

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