NameCensus.

UK surname

Sawant

A surname of Indian origin, typically referring to individuals from the Sawant community.

In the 1881 census there were 1 people recorded with the Sawant surname, ranking it #34,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 163, ranked #22,407, up from #34,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brent, Hounslow and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sawant is 168 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16200.0%.

1881 census count

1

Ranked #34,027

Modern count

163

2016, ranked #22,407

Peak year

2014

168 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sawant had 1 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #34,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016, ranked #22,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 19 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established Multi-Ethnic Communities.

Sawant surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sawant surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Sawant 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
1861 historical 19 #31,470
1881 historical 1 #34,027
1891 historical 1 #34,674
1997 modern 29 #34,795
1998 modern 37 #34,149
1999 modern 32 #34,717
2000 modern 35 #34,420
2001 modern 35 #34,261
2002 modern 43 #33,871
2003 modern 46 #33,710
2004 modern 54 #33,248
2005 modern 66 #32,303
2006 modern 82 #30,933
2007 modern 91 #30,061
2008 modern 113 #26,920
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 123 #26,728
2011 modern 143 #24,056
2012 modern 161 #22,157
2013 modern 164 #22,236
2014 modern 168 #22,075
2015 modern 163 #22,407
2016 modern 163 #22,407

Geography

Back to top

Where Sawants are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brent, Hounslow, Leeds and Hillingdon. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brent 017 Brent
2 Hounslow 018 Hounslow
3 Leeds 015 Leeds
4 Hillingdon 007 Hillingdon
5 Hounslow 011 Hounslow

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Sawant

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Sawant

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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Established Multi-Ethnic Communities

Nationally, the Sawant surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established Multi-Ethnic Communities, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Sawant household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Parents and young children in this Group are drawn from diverse ethnic backgrounds in broadly similar proportions. Employment is typically in elementary occupations, though workers in professional, intermediate or skilled trades occupations are also present. The residential landscape is dominated by terraced housing, although semi-detached houses and flats are also present. This Group is found in London and in many provincial towns and cities throughout the U.K.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Sawant is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sawant 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

Sawant 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 Sawant 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
Asian - Indian

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

Meaning and origin of Sawant

The surname Sawant is of Indian origin, specifically from the state of Maharashtra. It is believed to have originated in the early medieval period, around the 10th or 11th century CE.

Sawant is derived from the Sanskrit word 'Swami,' which means 'lord' or 'master.' It was a title bestowed upon learned scholars, religious leaders, and prominent individuals in ancient India. Over time, the title became a surname for the families of these individuals.

The earliest known historical reference to the Sawant surname can be found in the Marathi language literature and records from the Yadava dynasty, which ruled parts of Maharashtra between the 12th and 14th centuries. Some notable individuals with the Sawant surname from this period include Hemadri Sawant, a renowned scholar and author of the 13th century.

During the reign of the Maratha Empire in the 17th and 18th centuries, the Sawant surname gained prominence, particularly among the Marathi Brahmin community. Several influential figures from this era bore the Sawant name, such as Pillaji Sawant, a military leader and commander under Shivaji Maharaj, the founder of the Maratha Empire.

Another notable historical figure was Vithoji Sawant, a 17th-century poet and composer who contributed significantly to the Marathi literary tradition. His works, including the popular devotional songs known as 'Abhangs,' are still widely celebrated today.

In more recent history, Gajanan Sawant (1892-1963) was a prominent social reformer and leader of the non-Brahmin movement in Maharashtra, advocating for the rights and upliftment of backward communities.

The Sawant surname has also been associated with various place names in Maharashtra, such as Sawantwadi, a former princely state located in the Konkan region. The rulers of this state, known as the Sawant Bhonsles, were renowned for their patronage of arts and culture.

While the Sawant surname is predominantly found in Maharashtra, it has also spread to other parts of India and the world due to migration and diasporas. Some notable individuals bearing this surname include Vinayak Sawant, a legendary Indian cricketer from the early 20th century, and Vishwanath Sawant, a renowned classical vocalist and exponent of the Jaipur-Atrauli gharana.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Sawant surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sawant surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1 people were recorded with the Sawant surname. That placed it at #34,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sawant surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 163 in 2016. That gives Sawant a modern rank of #22,407.

What does the Sawant surname mean?

A surname of Indian origin, typically referring to individuals from the Sawant community.

What does the Sawant map show?

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