NameCensus.

UK surname

Sawer

An occupational surname referring to someone who sawed wood or other materials.

In the 1881 census there were 233 people recorded with the Sawer surname, ranking it #11,648 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 164, ranked #22,314, down from #11,648 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Leiston with Sizewell, St Pancras and Harewood. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Lindsey, Maidstone and Boston.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sawer is 335 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 29.6%.

1881 census count

233

Ranked #11,648

Modern count

164

2016, ranked #22,314

Peak year

1891

335 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sawer had 233 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,648 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 164 in 2016, ranked #22,314.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 335 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sawer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sawer surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sawer 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 278 #8,089
1861 historical 279 #8,979
1881 historical 233 #11,648
1891 historical 335 #10,181
1901 historical 310 #11,393
1911 historical 255 #12,719
1997 modern 168 #19,642
1998 modern 172 #19,883
1999 modern 169 #20,233
2000 modern 173 #19,889
2001 modern 169 #19,912
2002 modern 184 #19,275
2003 modern 175 #19,690
2004 modern 171 #20,079
2005 modern 169 #20,153
2006 modern 170 #20,214
2007 modern 159 #21,387
2008 modern 169 #20,745
2009 modern 172 #20,950
2010 modern 168 #21,733
2011 modern 168 #21,563
2012 modern 164 #21,883
2013 modern 161 #22,521
2014 modern 162 #22,624
2015 modern 165 #22,241
2016 modern 164 #22,314

Geography

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Where Sawers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Leiston with Sizewell, St Pancras, Harewood, Wisbech St Peter and Brough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Lindsey, Maidstone, Boston, St. Helens and Hyndburn. 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 Leiston with Sizewell Suffolk
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Harewood Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wisbech St Peter Cambridgeshire
5 Brough Westmorland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Lindsey 018 East Lindsey
2 Maidstone 010 Maidstone
3 Boston 008 Boston
4 St. Helens 015 St. Helens
5 Hyndburn 003 Hyndburn

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sawer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sawer

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

Sawer is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sawer falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Sawer

The surname Sawer originates from England and dates back to the medieval period, specifically around the 12th to 14th centuries. The name is predominantly found in regions such as Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. Its etymology is linked to the Old English word "sagu," meaning "a saw," which signifies it is an occupational name for a woodcutter or sawyer.

Early records of the name can be traced to various historical documents. One of the earliest mentions is in the Assize Court Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1202, where a William le Sawer is recorded. The name appears in various forms over the centuries, such as Saghier and Sawier, reflecting the changes in English spelling and pronunciation.

The Pipe Rolls, which are financial records from the treasury dating back to the 12th century, also mention individuals bearing the variation le Sawer, indicating the name was established within the administrative classes. Further records from the Poll Tax of 1379 in Yorkshire highlight individuals like a John Sawer, showing the spread of the name beyond its earlier regions.

In the 15th century, notable bearers of the name include Thomas Sawer, recorded in the Cambridge University Alumni in 1483. Such mentions illustrate the name's association with educated and professional classes by this period. Historical records from 1524 mention Geoffrey Sawer, a landowner in Norfolk, showcasing the name's link to property and prominence in local affairs.

The name continued to appear in significant records through the centuries. Reverend John Sawer, born in 1625 and dying in 1705, served as a clergyman in Middlesex, underlining the name's ongoing presence in ecclesiastical circles. Elizabeth Sawer, a noted patron of the arts, lived during the late 17th century, further contributing to the name's historical tapestry.

By the 18th century, the surname Sawer appeared in colonial records as well. Captain Richard Sawer, born in 1720, is documented as a merchant sailor navigating the Atlantic routes, pointing to the name's spread with British colonial expansion. The Sawer surname thus encapsulates a rich history spanning various regions and societal roles, from medieval woodcutters to prominent figures in academia, the clergy, arts, and even early colonial enterprise.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sawer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sawer 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. Suffolk leads with 63 Sawers recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.76x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 63 22.76x
Yorkshire 29 1.29x
Middlesex 27 1.19x
Surrey 18 1.63x
Lincolnshire 17 4.68x
Cambridgeshire 10 6.95x
Westmorland 10 20.02x
Lancashire 9 0.33x
Nottinghamshire 8 2.61x
Kent 6 0.77x
Lanarkshire 6 0.82x
Ayrshire 5 2.94x
Cumberland 4 2.04x
Montgomeryshire 4 7.68x
Sussex 4 1.04x
Devon 2 0.42x
Midlothian 2 0.66x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.73x
Derbyshire 1 0.28x
Essex 1 0.22x
Norfolk 1 0.29x
Northumberland 1 0.30x
Oxfordshire 1 0.71x
Roxburghshire 1 2.43x
Staffordshire 1 0.13x
Wiltshire 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. Ipswich St Margaret in Suffolk leads with 18 Sawers recorded in 1881 and an index of 191.69x.

Place Total Index
Ipswich St Margaret 18 191.69x
Bradford 9 16.51x
East Keswick 9 2571.43x
St Pancras London 9 4.92x
Basford 8 56.66x
Tunstall 8 1666.67x
Camberwell 7 4.82x
Henham 7 5833.33x
Leiston 7 368.42x
Govan 6 3.30x
Ipswich St Helen 6 182.93x
Ipswich St Mathew 6 77.32x
Kingston On Thames 6 22.56x
Broughton In Salford 5 20.28x
Kilmarnock 5 24.69x
Manton 5 4545.45x
Pepper Gowt 5 25000.00x
Bramfield 4 816.33x
Brough 4 816.33x
Hammersmith London 4 7.14x
Leighton 4 1333.33x
March 4 82.99x
Tottenham 4 11.05x
Wimbledon 4 32.18x
Wisbech St Peter 4 55.40x
Brough Sowerby 3 3000.00x
Hackney London 3 2.35x
Linthorpe 3 22.32x
Maidstone 3 12.99x
Thorner 3 410.96x
Threlkeld 3 909.09x
Aldeburgh 2 121.95x
Ardwick 2 8.22x
Edinburgh Old Church 2 81.97x
Hastings St Leonards 2 35.52x
Hastings St Mary In The 2 24.45x
Kirkby Stephen 2 153.85x
Kirton 2 136.99x
Leeds 2 1.57x
Leverington 2 210.53x
Stoke Newington London 2 11.30x
Tonbridge 2 7.15x
Winterton 2 160.00x
Algarkirk 1 250.00x
Brantham 1 312.50x
Catterall 1 208.33x
Chapel Allerton 1 29.67x
Cowley 1 22.83x
Exeter St Sidwell 1 9.23x
Frampton 1 144.93x
Great Clacton 1 65.36x
Greenwich 1 2.76x
Harpurhey 1 26.74x
Hintlesham 1 227.27x
Holbrook 1 163.93x
Horton In Bradford 1 2.84x
Iver 1 56.50x
Kensington London 1 0.79x
Killamarsh 1 45.25x
Kirkland Blencarn 1 5000.00x
Leek Lowe 1 9.79x
Market Lavington 1 91.74x
Morland 1 344.83x
Shipley 1 8.55x
Shoreditch London 1 1.01x
Snettisham 1 103.09x
Somersham 1 312.50x
Southwark St Thomas 1 163.93x
St Andrew Holborn 1 12.97x
St Giles Cripplegate 1 33.11x
St Marylebone London 1 0.82x
Stainton 1 1000.00x
Tormoham 1 5.00x
Tynemouth 1 5.52x
Wilton 1 22.12x
Woodbridge 1 28.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 18
Sarah 10
Eliza 6
Elizabeth 6
Emma 5
Jane 5
Edith 3
Harriet 3
Lucy 3
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Ellen 2
Emily 2
Esther 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Susanah 2
Amy 1
Anne 1
Betrice 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Daisy 1
Eleanor 1
Elizab. 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.M. 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Gertrude 1
H. 1
Hannah 1
Harriett 1
Helena 1
Isabel 1
Isabella 1
Jeannette 1
Jenney 1
Kate 1
Kathleen 1
Lettia 1
Lillie 1
Louisa 1
Louise 1
Mable 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Rose 1
S.F. 1
Susanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 16
William 11
George 8
Thomas 8
Joseph 6
James 5
Alfred 4
Charles 4
Richard 4
Edward 3
Absalom 2
Chas. 2
Frederick 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Matthew 2
Robert 2
Shepherd 2
Thos. 2
Adam 1
Anthony 1
Arthur 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Horace 1
Jonathon 1
Leonard 1
Michael 1
R.E. 1
Rayson 1
Riley 1
Robinson 1
Samuel 1
Stephen 1
W.J.William 1

FAQ

Sawer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sawer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 233 people were recorded with the Sawer surname. That placed it at #11,648 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sawer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 164 in 2016. That gives Sawer a modern rank of #22,314.

What does the Sawer surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who sawed wood or other materials.

What does the Sawer map show?

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