NameCensus.

UK surname

Saw

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a saw mill or wooded area.

In the 1881 census there were 294 people recorded with the Saw surname, ranking it #9,859 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 304, ranked #14,606, down from #9,859 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Radnage, Haddenham and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Enfield, South Oxfordshire and Boston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Saw is 525 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.4%.

1881 census count

294

Ranked #9,859

Modern count

304

2016, ranked #14,606

Peak year

1901

525 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Saw had 294 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,859 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 304 in 2016, ranked #14,606.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 525 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Saw surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Saw surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Saw 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 361 #6,554
1881 historical 294 #9,859
1891 historical 3 #34,257
1901 historical 525 #7,771
1997 modern 314 #13,136
1998 modern 317 #13,392
1999 modern 305 #13,808
2000 modern 289 #14,272
2001 modern 288 #14,103
2002 modern 304 #13,887
2003 modern 295 #13,964
2004 modern 282 #14,451
2005 modern 281 #14,411
2006 modern 273 #14,804
2007 modern 282 #14,618
2008 modern 290 #14,466
2009 modern 305 #14,257
2010 modern 314 #14,258
2011 modern 298 #14,666
2012 modern 301 #14,476
2013 modern 307 #14,522
2014 modern 310 #14,499
2015 modern 306 #14,536
2016 modern 304 #14,606

Geography

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Where Saws are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Radnage, Haddenham, London parishes, Chinnor and Dinton with Ford, Upton, Aston Mollins, and Moreton). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Enfield, South Oxfordshire, Boston, South Gloucestershire and Teignbridge. 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 Radnage Buckinghamshire
2 Haddenham Buckinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Chinnor Buckinghamshire
5 Dinton with Ford, Upton, Aston Mollins, and Moreton) Buckinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Enfield 005 Enfield
2 South Oxfordshire 005 South Oxfordshire
3 Boston 009 Boston
4 South Gloucestershire 026 South Gloucestershire
5 Teignbridge 004 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Saw

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Saw

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Saw, 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 Saw surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Saw 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, Saw 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

Saw 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

Saw falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Saw is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Saw

The surname Saw originates from England, where it is believed to have first appeared in the 13th century. It is likely derived from the Old English word "sagu" or "saga," meaning a sawyer or woodcutter. This occupational surname was given to those whose trade involved cutting wood or working with saws.

One of the earliest known references to the surname Saw can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Leicestershire in 1212, which mention a person named Richard le Saugar. This early spelling variation highlights the connection to the word "sawyer."

In the 14th century, records show the name spelled as "Sawer" and "Sawyer" in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire, and Oxfordshire. These variations further reinforce the occupational origin of the name.

The Saw surname is also found in several early English records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, which lists a William le Sawere. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332 mention a John le Sawyere.

One notable individual bearing the surname Saw was Robert Saw, a 16th-century English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, from 1564 to 1577.

Another well-known figure was James Saw, an English politician who lived from 1782 to 1859 and served as a Member of Parliament for Calne from 1826 to 1832.

In the 17th century, the Saw surname can be found in various parish records across England, indicating its widespread distribution. One example is William Saw, who was baptized in 1620 in St. Mary's Parish, Nottingham.

Moving into the 18th century, a notable individual was Samuel Saw, an English clockmaker born in 1701 in Wapping, London. He was known for his exceptional craftsmanship and contributed to the development of precision timekeeping.

The 19th century saw the rise of John Saw, a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He was born in 1784 and achieved the rank of Vice Admiral.

While the Saw surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and continues to be found in various countries today.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Saw families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Saw 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. Buckinghamshire leads with 78 Saws recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.09x.

County Total Index
Buckinghamshire 78 46.09x
Middlesex 57 2.04x
Oxfordshire 33 19.09x
Surrey 28 2.05x
Hertfordshire 20 10.36x
Kent 10 1.05x
Yorkshire 8 0.29x
Herefordshire 7 6.10x
Wiltshire 6 2.42x
Essex 5 0.90x
Lancashire 5 0.15x
Monmouthshire 5 2.47x
Staffordshire 5 0.53x
Berkshire 4 1.90x
Hampshire 4 0.70x
Warwickshire 4 0.57x
Sussex 2 0.42x
Bedfordshire 1 0.69x
Cheshire 1 0.16x
Devon 1 0.17x
Norfolk 1 0.23x
Northumberland 1 0.24x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Haddenham in Buckinghamshire leads with 53 Saws recorded in 1881 and an index of 3812.95x.

Place Total Index
Haddenham 53 3812.95x
Chinnor 19 1583.33x
Dinton 16 2388.06x
Cowley 9 166.67x
Hammersmith London 9 13.05x
Bethnal Green London 8 6.58x
Greenwich 8 17.95x
Battersea 7 6.80x
Hornsey 7 19.77x
Northchurch 7 339.81x
Twickenham 7 58.33x
Beddington 6 113.64x
Charlton 6 821.92x
Cheshunt 6 88.89x
Hillingdon 6 67.19x
Bedwellty 5 13.99x
Berkhampstead 5 115.21x
Darfield 5 197.63x
Penge 5 27.96x
Aylesbury 4 53.33x
Bartestree 4 2105.26x
Camberwell 4 2.24x
Hackney London 4 2.55x
Oxford St Thomas 4 49.57x
St Marylebone London 4 2.68x
Uxbridge 4 125.00x
Waltham Holy Cross 4 77.37x
Wolverhampton 4 5.51x
Bodenham 3 357.14x
Lambeth 3 1.23x
Lillington 3 329.67x
Portsea 3 2.67x
Turville 3 750.00x
Bradford 2 12.86x
Compton 2 434.78x
Hastings Holy Trinity 2 57.47x
Reading St Giles 2 9.70x
Spotland 2 5.42x
Acton 1 6.09x
Birkenhead 1 2.03x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 10.04x
Clewer 1 11.61x
Cookham 1 15.27x
East Rudham 1 131.58x
Exeter Allhallows Onthe 1 370.37x
Fareham 1 14.49x
Hampstead London 1 2.29x
Haslingden 1 7.27x
Heckmondwike 1 11.21x
Henley On Thames 1 28.25x
Isleworth 1 8.03x
Islington London 1 0.37x
Leeds 1 0.64x
Leighton Buzzard 1 16.03x
Little Stanmore 1 120.48x
Long Compton 1 149.25x
Mile End Old Town 1 2.26x
North Shields 1 12.03x
Pitstone 1 222.22x
Princes Risborough 1 44.05x
Richmond 1 5.23x
Rushall 1 17.99x
St George Hanover 1 2.74x
St Pancras London 1 0.44x
Sutton Stoneferry 1 12.59x
Tring 1 19.42x
Watford 1 6.68x
West Ham 1 0.82x
Woolwich 1 2.83x
Worksop 1 8.94x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 22
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 12
Emily 9
Ann 8
Eliza 8
Emma 6
Jane 5
Annie 4
Harriet 4
Kate 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Anne 3
Florence 3
Louisa 3
Sophia 3
Caroline 2
Charlotte 2
Ellen 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Martha 2
Rebecca 2
Susannah 2
Agnes 1
Allice 1
Amelia 1
Clara 1
Daisy 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizeth 1
Elizth. 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Isabella 1
Jessie 1
Lousia 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Mable 1
Margaret 1
Maryann 1
Rhoda 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1
Susan 1
Sussana 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 14
William 13
Henry 11
Thomas 11
George 10
Joseph 8
James 5
Frederick 4
Samuel 4
Albert 3
Charles 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
Benjamin 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Arnold 1
Edward 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Harry 1
Jab...y 1
Jacob 1
Jesse 1
Luke 1
Matthew 1
Owen 1
Ralph 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Roland 1
Rowland 1
Sydney 1
Thos.J. 1
Timothy 1
Tom 1
Walter 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Saw surname: questions and answers

How common was the Saw surname in 1881?

In 1881, 294 people were recorded with the Saw surname. That placed it at #9,859 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Saw surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 304 in 2016. That gives Saw a modern rank of #14,606.

What does the Saw surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a saw mill or wooded area.

What does the Saw map show?

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