NameCensus.

UK surname

Savory

A surname denoting an individual who was a maker or seller of savory foods.

In the 1881 census there were 1,107 people recorded with the Savory surname, ranking it #3,595 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,537, ranked #4,027, down from #3,595 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North Norfolk, Tendring and Cotswold.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Savory is 1,647 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.8%.

1881 census count

1,107

Ranked #3,595

Modern count

1,537

2016, ranked #4,027

Peak year

1999

1,647 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Savory had 1,107 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,595 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,537 in 2016, ranked #4,027.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,618 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Savory surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Savory surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Savory 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 776 #3,443
1861 historical 619 #4,312
1881 historical 1,107 #3,595
1891 historical 1,171 #3,653
1901 historical 1,459 #3,495
1911 historical 1,618 #3,001
1997 modern 1,571 #3,752
1998 modern 1,640 #3,747
1999 modern 1,647 #3,769
2000 modern 1,607 #3,841
2001 modern 1,560 #3,873
2002 modern 1,611 #3,826
2003 modern 1,596 #3,772
2004 modern 1,576 #3,830
2005 modern 1,577 #3,778
2006 modern 1,553 #3,827
2007 modern 1,536 #3,908
2008 modern 1,548 #3,908
2009 modern 1,575 #3,929
2010 modern 1,609 #3,939
2011 modern 1,581 #3,952
2012 modern 1,542 #3,983
2013 modern 1,550 #4,026
2014 modern 1,563 #4,018
2015 modern 1,532 #4,058
2016 modern 1,537 #4,027

Geography

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Where Savorys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Lambeth and Tuddenham, North. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North Norfolk, Tendring, Cotswold and South Norfolk. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Tuddenham, North Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North Norfolk 002 North Norfolk
2 Tendring 011 Tendring
3 Cotswold 004 Cotswold
4 South Norfolk 006 South Norfolk
5 North Norfolk 011 North Norfolk

Forenames

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First names often paired with Savory

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Savory

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

Savory 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

Savory falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Savory

The surname Savory is of English origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is thought to derive from the Old French word "savour," which means "taste" or "flavor." The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who worked with spices or herbs, or who was particularly skilled in the preparation of savory dishes.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Savory surname dates back to the 13th century in the county of Staffordshire, England. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a man named William le Sauuour is mentioned, which is an early spelling variation of the name.

During the medieval period, the Savory name appeared in various records and documents, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, where a Richard Savery is listed in 1327. The name was also found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1334, with the entry of a John Savory.

In the 16th century, the surname Savory was particularly prevalent in the counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire. The parish registers of these areas contain numerous references to individuals with this surname, such as the baptism of Thomas Savory in Nettleden, Somerset, in 1568.

One noteworthy individual with the Savory surname was John Savory (c. 1576-1639), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Shalbourne, Wiltshire. He wrote several religious works, including "The Christian's Guide" and "A Plaine and Profitable Exposition of the Lord's Prayer."

Another significant figure was William Savory (1709-1778), an English botanist and nurseryman from Colchester, Essex. He is known for his contributions to the study of plants and for introducing several new species to cultivation.

In the 19th century, Charles Savory (1796-1861) was a prominent English surgeon and medical writer. He served as a surgeon at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London and published several works on surgical practices and medical education.

The Savory surname has also been associated with place names in various parts of England. For instance, there is a village called Savory in Gloucestershire, which may have influenced the surname's development in that region.

Throughout history, the Savory surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Savery, Savourie, and Savorie, reflecting the fluid nature of English orthography during earlier periods.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Savory families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Savory 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. Norfolk leads with 332 Savorys recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.01x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 332 20.01x
Gloucestershire 133 6.29x
Middlesex 123 1.14x
Surrey 89 1.69x
Yorkshire 50 0.47x
Lancashire 47 0.37x
Wiltshire 44 4.61x
Suffolk 36 2.74x
Oxfordshire 33 4.95x
Berkshire 25 3.09x
Kent 21 0.57x
Warwickshire 21 0.77x
Nottinghamshire 14 0.96x
Herefordshire 13 2.94x
Bedfordshire 12 2.15x
Worcestershire 12 0.85x
Derbyshire 11 0.65x
Dorset 11 1.55x
Essex 9 0.42x
Northamptonshire 8 0.79x
Durham 7 0.22x
Northumberland 7 0.44x
Shropshire 7 0.75x
Monmouthshire 6 0.77x
Somerset 6 0.35x
Hampshire 5 0.23x
Sussex 5 0.27x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.61x
Glamorgan 4 0.21x
Hertfordshire 3 0.40x
Channel Islands 2 0.63x
Royal Navy 2 1.56x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Lincolnshire 1 0.06x
Midlothian 1 0.07x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. North Tuddenham in Norfolk leads with 43 Savorys recorded in 1881 and an index of 3467.74x.

Place Total Index
North Tuddenham 43 3467.74x
Highworth 30 245.90x
Great Yarmouth 23 16.74x
Islington London 23 2.20x
Lambeth 23 2.44x
Warrington 17 11.20x
Lowestoft 16 25.77x
Witney 16 143.63x
Hackney London 15 2.48x
Heigham 15 16.85x
Mattishall Burgh 15 2777.78x
North Cerney 15 646.55x
Camberwell 14 2.03x
Fakenham 13 159.12x
Kensington London 13 2.17x
Henlow 12 347.83x
Newington 11 2.76x
East Bradenham 10 826.45x
Field Dalling 10 819.67x
Flitcham Cum Appleton 10 581.40x
Newchurch 10 9.55x
Norwich St Clement 10 52.00x
Old Buckenham 10 235.29x
Wells Next Sea 10 103.41x
Aslacton 9 810.81x
Dymock 9 178.57x
Painswick 9 60.16x
Ashill 8 330.58x
Aston 8 1.07x
Barney 8 695.65x
Barwick 8 3809.52x
Chertsey 8 23.55x
Deerhurst 8 259.74x
Gaywood 8 268.46x
Mirfield 8 13.63x
Palgrave 8 289.86x
Ripple 8 299.63x
Chirton 7 19.27x
Clerkenwell London 7 2.75x
Drayton In Hales 7 36.42x
Mansell Gamage 7 1296.30x
Moulton St Michael 7 526.32x
Newark Upon Trent 7 13.39x
Oldham 7 1.69x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 3.22x
Stroud 7 17.00x
Wandsworth 7 6.74x
Willesden 7 6.88x
Banbury 6 44.98x
Barton Mills 6 344.83x
Cirencester 6 20.94x
Cleckheaton 6 15.24x
Fulham London 6 3.83x
Hampstead London 6 3.57x
Hasland 6 34.88x
Hereford St Peter 6 50.76x
Leonard Stanley 6 215.83x
Liversedge 6 12.61x
Sheffield 6 1.76x
Swindon 6 8.11x
Battersea 5 1.26x
Bermondsey 5 1.56x
Beverston 5 714.29x
Blunsdon St Andrew 5 1470.59x
Chipping Sodbury 5 126.90x
Clifton 5 4.67x
Erith 5 13.79x
Foleshill 5 17.46x
Gomersal 5 10.02x
Great Massingham 5 152.91x
Iron Acton 5 117.10x
Isleworth 5 10.42x
Langham 5 420.17x
Lewisham 5 2.55x
Little Walsingham 5 133.33x
Monmouth 5 24.18x
Oxford St Aldate 5 71.33x
Preston 5 495.05x
Skelton In Guisbrough 5 17.29x
Weybridge 5 44.33x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 62
Elizabeth 45
Sarah 32
Ann 27
Ellen 24
Emma 21
Jane 19
Alice 18
Eliza 17
Annie 14
Emily 13
Maria 13
Charlotte 11
Hannah 11
Fanny 10
Caroline 8
Clara 8
Florence 8
Margaret 8
Anna 7
Edith 7
Frances 7
Susannah 7
Martha 6
Ada 5
Harriet 5
Harriett 5
Laura 5
Louisa 5
Rosa 5
Sophia 5
Susan 5
Agnes 4
Amy 4
Catherine 4
Eleanor 4
Evelyn 4
Lucy 4
Anne 3
Gertrude 3
Grace 3
Isabel 3
Jessie 3
Rose 3
Amelia 2
Beatrice 2
Lavina 2
Lydia 2
Margarette 2
Marion 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 84
John 39
Thomas 34
James 33
Henry 29
George 25
Charles 24
Robert 20
Arthur 19
Albert 14
Edward 14
Samuel 13
Frederick 12
Alfred 9
David 7
Ernest 7
Richard 7
Frank 6
Edwin 5
Harry 5
Joseph 5
Adam 4
Daniel 4
Francis 4
Herbert 4
Sidney 4
Walter 4
Edmund 3
Horace 3
Chas. 2
Elijah 2
Jesse 2
Reginald 2
Robt. 2
Ronald 2
Willm. 2
Aluicericus 1
Benjamin 1
Bernard 1
Borradaile 1
Danl. 1
Donald 1
Donnas 1
Douglas 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Harold 1
Harrison 1
Herbt.W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Savory surname: questions and answers

How common was the Savory surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,107 people were recorded with the Savory surname. That placed it at #3,595 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Savory surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,537 in 2016. That gives Savory a modern rank of #4,027.

What does the Savory surname mean?

A surname denoting an individual who was a maker or seller of savory foods.

What does the Savory map show?

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