UK surname
A locational surname derived from the village of Sawrey in Cumbria, England.
In the 1881 census there were 117 people recorded with the Sawrey surname, ranking it #18,026 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 86, ranked #32,570, down from #18,026 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Millom, Muncaster, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and Pennington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sawrey is 136 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 26.5%.
1881 census count
117
Ranked #18,026
Modern count
86
2016, ranked #32,570
Peak year
1901
136 bearers
Map years
5
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sawrey surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sawrey surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 92 | #18,050 |
| 1861 | historical | 119 | #18,393 |
| 1881 | historical | 117 | #18,026 |
| 1891 | historical | 135 | #19,692 |
| 1901 | historical | 136 | #19,110 |
| 1911 | historical | 117 | #20,757 |
| 1997 | modern | 73 | #30,306 |
| 1998 | modern | 79 | #30,080 |
| 1999 | modern | 82 | #29,933 |
| 2000 | modern | 78 | #30,361 |
| 2001 | modern | 74 | #30,600 |
| 2002 | modern | 74 | #31,048 |
| 2003 | modern | 76 | #30,883 |
| 2004 | modern | 77 | #31,024 |
| 2005 | modern | 73 | #31,616 |
| 2006 | modern | 71 | #32,147 |
| 2007 | modern | 68 | #32,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 66 | #33,217 |
| 2009 | modern | 69 | #33,257 |
| 2010 | modern | 74 | #33,167 |
| 2011 | modern | 72 | #33,323 |
| 2012 | modern | 75 | #33,263 |
| 2013 | modern | 84 | #32,745 |
| 2014 | modern | 88 | #32,495 |
| 2015 | modern | 91 | #32,153 |
| 2016 | modern | 86 | #32,570 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Millom, Muncaster, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken, Pennington, Ulverstone and Kirkby Ireleth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Millom, Muncaster | Cumberland |
| 2 | Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken | Warwickshire |
| 3 | Pennington | Lancashire |
| 4 | Ulverstone | Lancashire |
| 5 | Kirkby Ireleth | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sawrey surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sawrey, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Sawrey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sawrey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Sawrey is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sawrey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sawrey, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Sawrey is of English origin and is believed to have originated in the medieval period, specifically from the area of Sawrey in the Lake District of Cumbria, England. The name is derived from the Old English words "salu" meaning "willow" and "ey" meaning "island or water-meadow," referring to a willow-covered island or water-meadow.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname Sawrey can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Saloree." This suggests that the name was already well-established in the region by the time of the Norman Conquest in 1066.
During the 13th century, the name appeared as "Salurey" and "Salrei" in various records from Lancashire and Westmorland. The spelling "Sawrey" emerged in the 15th century, reflecting the local pronunciation of the name.
One notable historical figure with the surname Sawrey was Sir Robert Sawrey (1633-1719), an English judge and Member of Parliament. He served as a Justice of the King's Bench from 1688 to 1719 and played a significant role in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.
Another prominent individual was John Sawrey Gilpin (1733-1807), an English poet and author best known for his humorous poem "The Diverting History of John Gilpin." He was born in Carlisle and spent much of his life in the Lake District area.
In the 19th century, William Sawrey (1808-1888), a English artist and engraver, gained recognition for his landscape paintings and engravings depicting the Lake District and other scenic areas of England.
The surname Sawrey is also associated with several place names in the Lake District, such as Sawrey Ground, Sawrey Knotts, and Sawrey Cottage, further reinforcing its connection to the region.
Reverend Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley (1851-1920), an English clergyman and co-founder of the National Trust, was born in Crosthwaite, near Sawrey in the Lake District. He played a crucial role in preserving the natural beauty of the Lake District and establishing it as a tourist destination.
These examples illustrate the deep historical roots of the surname Sawrey and its enduring association with the beautiful landscapes of the Lake District in England.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sawrey surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 78 Sawreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.43x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 78 | 5.43x |
| Cumberland | 12 | 11.52x |
| Warwickshire | 11 | 3.61x |
| Anglesey | 7 | 32.66x |
| Isle of Man | 7 | 31.17x |
| Durham | 5 | 1.39x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.17x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 0.08x |
| Westmorland | 1 | 3.76x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ulverston in Lancashire leads with 20 Sawreys recorded in 1881 and an index of 478.47x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Ulverston | 20 | 478.47x |
| Pennington In Ulverston | 14 | 1971.83x |
| Dalton In Furness | 11 | 198.56x |
| Kirkby Ireleth | 11 | 1527.78x |
| Ulpha | 11 | 9166.67x |
| West Broughton | 10 | 2083.33x |
| Maughold | 7 | 404.62x |
| Coventry St Michael | 6 | 61.22x |
| Holyhead | 6 | 150.00x |
| Blawith | 5 | 7142.86x |
| Coventry Holy Trinity | 5 | 54.88x |
| Gateshead | 5 | 18.56x |
| Osmotherley | 3 | 1500.00x |
| Clapham Cum Newby | 2 | 714.29x |
| Lowick | 2 | 1250.00x |
| Beaumaris | 1 | 126.58x |
| Brough | 1 | 384.62x |
| Egton Cum Newland | 1 | 238.10x |
| Hawkshead Monk Coniston | 1 | 200.00x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 1.49x |
| Waberthwaite | 1 | 1250.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sawrey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sawrey surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Sawrey households.
FAQ
In 1881, 117 people were recorded with the Sawrey surname. That placed it at #18,026 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 86 in 2016. That gives Sawrey a modern rank of #32,570.
A locational surname derived from the village of Sawrey in Cumbria, England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sawrey bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.