NameCensus.

UK surname

Sawers

A locational surname originating from a place called Sawers in Scotland.

In the 1881 census there were 352 people recorded with the Sawers surname, ranking it #8,718 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 581, ranked #8,925, down from #8,718 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Inveresk, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Gallowgate North and Bellgrove, Crossgates and Halbeath and Ruchill.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sawers is 581 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 65.1%.

1881 census count

352

Ranked #8,718

Modern count

581

2016, ranked #8,925

Peak year

2016

581 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sawers had 352 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,718 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 581 in 2016, ranked #8,925.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 436 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Routine Occupations or Retirement.

Sawers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sawers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sawers 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 298 #7,691
1861 historical 371 #6,875
1881 historical 352 #8,718
1891 historical 363 #9,556
1901 historical 436 #8,907
1911 historical 121 #20,336
1997 modern 533 #8,871
1998 modern 551 #8,921
1999 modern 565 #8,787
2000 modern 566 #8,744
2001 modern 534 #9,000
2002 modern 533 #9,203
2003 modern 538 #8,988
2004 modern 530 #9,117
2005 modern 529 #9,066
2006 modern 518 #9,232
2007 modern 508 #9,455
2008 modern 513 #9,454
2009 modern 531 #9,417
2010 modern 551 #9,354
2011 modern 541 #9,400
2012 modern 549 #9,184
2013 modern 568 #9,080
2014 modern 574 #9,078
2015 modern 578 #8,972
2016 modern 581 #8,925

Geography

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Where Sawers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Inveresk, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Loudoun. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Gallowgate North and Bellgrove, Crossgates and Halbeath, Ruchill, Eaglesham and Waterfoot and Calton and Gallowgate. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Inveresk Edinburgh
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Loudoun Ayr

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Gallowgate North and Bellgrove Glasgow City
2 Crossgates and Halbeath Fife
3 Ruchill Glasgow City
4 Eaglesham and Waterfoot East Renfrewshire
5 Calton and Gallowgate Glasgow City

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sawers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sawers

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Routine Occupations or Retirement

Nationally, the Sawers surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Routine Occupations or Retirement, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Sawers household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods are characterised by high proportions of single, often never-married adults of normal retirement age or older, including many that are in the most advanced age groups. Most adults are UK born and live at high residential densities, and many of the children living with parents are in adulthood. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are uncommon, but above average proportions of households include individuals that identify with different ethnic groups. Long-term disability is relatively common, and the dominant accommodation type is flats. Unemployment rates are high, with most of those employed working in routine occupations. Few individuals have high level qualifications. Car ownership is not high.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Sawers 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

Sawers is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sawers falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sawers

The surname SAWERS is of Scottish origin, tracing its roots back to the 16th century in the regions of Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire. It is believed to have derived from the old Scottish word "sawer," which referred to a sawyer or someone who operated a sawmill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland from 1610, where a certain John Sawers is mentioned as residing in Glasgow. This suggests that the name was already established in the area by the early 17th century.

In the latter part of the 17th century, the SAWERS name appears in various parish records and censuses across Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire, indicating its spread throughout these regions. Some of the places associated with the name during this time include the villages of Eaglesham, Neilston, and Lochwinnoch.

A notable figure bearing the SAWERS surname was Robert Sawers (1722-1804), a prominent merchant and landowner in Renfrewshire. He was a respected member of the local community and his family's wealth and influence helped to cement the name's status in the region.

Another individual of note was James Sawers (1805-1882), a Scottish minister and author who served as the Minister of the Greyfriars Parish Church in Perth. His published works include "Memoir of the Rev. John Inglis" and "The Doctrine of the New Birth."

In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the SAWERS name began to spread beyond its Scottish heartlands, with some members of the family emigrating to other parts of the British Empire, including Canada and Australia.

One such individual was William Sawers (1836-1914), a Scottish-born businessman who settled in Melbourne, Australia, where he became a successful merchant and civic leader. He served as the Mayor of Prahran from 1884 to 1885.

Another notable figure was Sir Charles Sawers (1887-1968), a British diplomat and civil servant who served as the Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office from 1946 to 1949. He played a key role in the early years of the Cold War and was instrumental in shaping Britain's foreign policy during that period.

While the SAWERS surname may have its roots in a humble profession, it has since become associated with individuals who have made significant contributions to various fields, from business and politics to religion and diplomacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sawers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sawers 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. Lanarkshire leads with 106 Sawers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.60x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 106 9.60x
Midlothian 51 11.15x
Ayrshire 28 10.96x
Dunbartonshire 26 28.34x
Kent 23 1.97x
Middlesex 20 0.59x
Renfrewshire 17 6.43x
Stirlingshire 11 8.74x
Angus 10 3.16x
Argyllshire 7 7.37x
Roxburghshire 7 11.32x
Surrey 6 0.36x
Westmorland 5 6.66x
Wigtownshire 5 11.03x
Cumberland 4 1.36x
Durham 4 0.39x
Hertfordshire 4 1.70x
Perthshire 4 2.61x
Yorkshire 4 0.12x
Cheshire 3 0.40x
West Lothian 3 5.83x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 2.02x
Northumberland 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 47 Sawers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.21x.

Place Total Index
Govan 47 17.21x
Barony 36 12.88x
Kirkintilloch 22 176.57x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 20 10.87x
Glasgow 15 7.65x
Kilmarnock 14 46.04x
Paisley High Church 14 66.45x
Dundee 10 8.47x
St Mary Cray 9 403.59x
Inveresk 8 64.62x
Eckford 7 654.21x
Greenwich 7 12.88x
Loudoun 7 113.82x
Islington London 6 1.81x
Kensington London 6 3.16x
Southwark St George Martyr 6 8.73x
Asby 5 862.07x
Dalkeith 5 55.43x
Denny 5 74.63x
Dunoon Kilmun 5 67.48x
Edinburgh St Johns 5 173.01x
Bradford 4 4.88x
Cumbernauld 4 79.52x
Duddingston 4 43.57x
Falkirk 4 13.57x
Sorbie 4 202.02x
Sorn 4 79.68x
Watford 4 21.92x
Abbey 3 7.43x
Bromley London 3 3.99x
Carluke 3 29.91x
Edinburgh New 3 84.51x
Great Neston 3 120.48x
Hackney London 3 1.57x
Penrith 3 27.62x
Torphichen 3 167.60x
Blantyre 2 17.39x
Campbeltown 2 17.45x
Conside Knitsley 2 25.32x
Erith 2 17.42x
Logie 2 36.36x
Muirkirk 2 33.33x
Orpington 2 56.02x
Rattray 2 56.02x
Tonbridge 2 4.76x
Bellingham 1 117.65x
Benfieldside 1 14.97x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.15x
Carmichael 1 109.89x
Crossmichael 1 64.10x
Dalrymple 1 62.50x
Edinburgh St Stephens 1 11.11x
Edinburgh Tolbooth 1 37.59x
Edinburgh Tron Church 1 46.73x
Mid Calder 1 50.51x
Minster In Sheppey 1 5.18x
New Monkland 1 3.06x
Newton 1 64.94x
Old Luce 1 34.97x
Penicuik 1 16.08x
Shotts 1 7.57x
Slamannan 1 14.49x
St Martin In Fields 1 4.89x
Stanwix 1 42.02x
Stirling 1 6.30x
Towerof London London 1 92.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Isabella 3
Jane 3
Mary 3
Caroline 2
Elizabeth 2
Jessie 2
Maud 2
Ada 1
Agnes 1
Annie 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Colin 1
Eliza 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Esther 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Hermina 1
Jemima 1
Lily 1
M.W. 1
Margaret 1
Maude 1
Phyllis 1
Rebecca 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 7
James 5
William 5
Robert 4
Charles 3
Wm. 2
Alex 1
Alexander 1
Alexandra 1
Douglas 1
Ernest 1
Geo. 1
George 1
Henry 1
Keith 1
Louis 1
Norman 1

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 Sawers households.

FAQ

Sawers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sawers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 352 people were recorded with the Sawers surname. That placed it at #8,718 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sawers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 581 in 2016. That gives Sawers a modern rank of #8,925.

What does the Sawers surname mean?

A locational surname originating from a place called Sawers in Scotland.

What does the Sawers map show?

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