NameCensus.

UK surname

Sawle

Derived from the Old English word "sawol" meaning soul or spirit.

In the 1881 census there were 157 people recorded with the Sawle surname, ranking it #15,046 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 180, ranked #21,022, down from #15,046 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Probus and Falmouth Town. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Malvern Hills and Chiltern.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sawle is 261 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 14.6%.

1881 census count

157

Ranked #15,046

Modern count

180

2016, ranked #21,022

Peak year

1911

261 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sawle had 157 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #15,046 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016, ranked #21,022.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 261 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Sawle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sawle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sawle 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 130 #14,314
1861 historical 127 #17,469
1881 historical 157 #15,046
1891 historical 208 #14,496
1901 historical 225 #14,047
1911 historical 261 #12,526
1997 modern 208 #17,219
1998 modern 216 #17,257
1999 modern 215 #17,425
2000 modern 213 #17,503
2001 modern 204 #17,736
2002 modern 205 #18,009
2003 modern 189 #18,738
2004 modern 187 #18,993
2005 modern 178 #19,535
2006 modern 175 #19,850
2007 modern 175 #20,090
2008 modern 182 #19,800
2009 modern 187 #19,868
2010 modern 193 #19,880
2011 modern 189 #19,997
2012 modern 192 #19,730
2013 modern 195 #19,857
2014 modern 192 #20,230
2015 modern 184 #20,719
2016 modern 180 #21,022

Geography

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Where Sawles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Probus, Falmouth Town, Camborne and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Malvern Hills and Chiltern. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Probus Cornwall
3 Falmouth Town Cornwall
4 Camborne Cornwall
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 048 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 040 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 058 Cornwall
4 Malvern Hills 005 Malvern Hills
5 Chiltern 005 Chiltern

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sawle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sawle

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Sawle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sawle household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Sawle 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

Sawle is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sawle 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 Sawle 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 Sawle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sawle

The surname SAWLE has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sauel," which means "soul" or "spirit." This suggests that the name may have originally been given to someone who was known for their spiritual or philosophical nature.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SAWLE surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a person named Richard Saule is mentioned. Additionally, the name appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332, indicating its presence in different regions of England during the medieval period.

During the 16th century, the surname SAWLE was associated with several notable individuals. One such person was Thomas SAWLE, a merchant and alderman who lived in Bristol between 1510 and 1580. Another was John SAWLE, born in 1565 in Penryn, Cornwall, who became a notable scholar and author.

In the 17th century, the SAWLE surname gained further prominence with individuals like Robert SAWLE, a landowner and Member of Parliament for Lostwithiel in Cornwall, who lived from 1615 to 1692. Another notable figure was Sir Edmund SAWLE, born in 1621 in St. Hilary, Cornwall, who served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted for his services.

The 18th century saw the birth of several individuals with the SAWLE surname, including John SAWLE, a prominent merchant and landowner in Cornwall, born in 1716. Additionally, there was William SAWLE, born in 1764 in Falmouth, Cornwall, who became a renowned naval officer and served during the Napoleonic Wars.

Moving into the 19th century, one of the most notable figures was Charles SAWLE, born in 1815 in Penryn, Cornwall. He was a renowned architect and designed several notable buildings, including the Royal Institution of Cornwall in Truro.

Throughout its history, the SAWLE surname has been associated with various locations in Cornwall, particularly the towns of Penryn, Falmouth, and St. Hilary. The name has also been linked to other parts of England, such as Oxfordshire and Sussex, indicating its widespread presence across the country.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sawle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sawle 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. Cornwall leads with 86 Sawles recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.68x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 86 48.68x
Middlesex 30 1.92x
Devon 11 3.39x
Lancashire 11 0.59x
Essex 8 2.60x
Surrey 4 0.53x
Royal Navy 3 16.13x
Cheshire 2 0.58x
Glamorgan 2 0.74x
Kent 2 0.38x
Hampshire 1 0.31x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gerrans in Cornwall leads with 40 Sawles recorded in 1881 and an index of 8333.33x.

Place Total Index
Gerrans 40 8333.33x
Mile End Old Town 11 44.66x
Falmouth 9 144.00x
Truro St Mary 9 608.11x
Camborne 8 109.89x
Wanstead 8 148.42x
Bromley London 7 20.39x
St Just In Roseland 7 909.09x
Broughton In Salford 6 35.44x
Paignton 5 202.43x
St Pancras London 5 3.98x
Ilfracombe 4 119.76x
Bow London 3 15.10x
Hackney London 3 3.43x
Mabe 3 833.33x
Royal Navy 3 18.87x
Scotforth 3 250.00x
Wandsworth 3 19.97x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 2 50.51x
Rochester St Nicholas 2 120.48x
St Enoder 2 333.33x
West Derby 2 3.69x
Camberwell 1 1.00x
Cardiff St Mary 1 6.68x
Creed Grampound 1 476.19x
Crowan 1 71.43x
Eling 1 30.86x
Feock 1 90.09x
Kenwyn 1 21.65x
Ladock 1 200.00x
Morthoe 1 434.78x
Probus 1 138.89x
Roath 1 8.10x
St Agnes 1 40.49x
St Austell 1 16.56x
St Marylebone London 1 1.20x
Stoke Damerel 1 4.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Elizabeth 8
Eliza 6
Alice 4
Maria 4
Annie 3
Emily 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Edith 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Louisa 2
Mabel 2
Adela 1
Alberta 1
Amy 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Cathl. 1
Charlotte 1
Elizth. 1
Ethel 1
Georgina 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Jessie 1
Julia 1
Julianna 1
K. 1
Kate 1
Larinda 1
Letitia 1
Lilian 1
Lilla 1
Mariad 1
Marion 1
Maud 1
Mercy 1
Mimoa 1
Octavia 1
Phebe 1
Sarah 1
Septrina 1
Susan 1
Tanna 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 12
John 8
George 7
Charles 5
Edward 5
Thomas 5
Joseph 4
Frederick 3
James 3
Alfred 2
Ehud 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
A. 1
Albert 1
Eddy 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Jame 1
Matthew 1
Welsley 1

FAQ

Sawle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sawle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 157 people were recorded with the Sawle surname. That placed it at #15,046 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sawle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 180 in 2016. That gives Sawle a modern rank of #21,022.

What does the Sawle surname mean?

Derived from the Old English word "sawol" meaning soul or spirit.

What does the Sawle map show?

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