NameCensus.

UK surname

Sawtell

A surname likely locational in origin, derived from a place name meaning "mill stream valley."

In the 1881 census there were 221 people recorded with the Sawtell surname, ranking it #12,049 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 318, ranked #14,159, down from #12,049 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Langport, Drayton with Middleney, Curry Rivell, Swell, Aller and Somerton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Malvern Hills, South Somerset and West Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sawtell is 365 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 43.9%.

1881 census count

221

Ranked #12,049

Modern count

318

2016, ranked #14,159

Peak year

1911

365 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sawtell had 221 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #12,049 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 318 in 2016, ranked #14,159.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 365 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Sawtell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sawtell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sawtell 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 181 #11,256
1861 historical 178 #13,202
1881 historical 221 #12,049
1891 historical 251 #12,729
1901 historical 347 #10,500
1911 historical 365 #9,955
1997 modern 344 #12,319
1998 modern 345 #12,649
1999 modern 337 #12,942
2000 modern 342 #12,771
2001 modern 335 #12,759
2002 modern 325 #13,275
2003 modern 310 #13,522
2004 modern 312 #13,532
2005 modern 305 #13,689
2006 modern 307 #13,695
2007 modern 306 #13,862
2008 modern 308 #13,882
2009 modern 306 #14,218
2010 modern 310 #14,378
2011 modern 316 #14,092
2012 modern 304 #14,388
2013 modern 314 #14,273
2014 modern 314 #14,371
2015 modern 316 #14,214
2016 modern 318 #14,159

Geography

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Where Sawtells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Langport, Drayton with Middleney, Curry Rivell, Swell, Aller, Somerton, Wimbledon and Huish Episcopi. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Malvern Hills, South Somerset, West Dorset, Liverpool and Epping Forest. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Langport, Drayton with Middleney, Curry Rivell, Swell, Aller Somerset
3 Somerton Somerset
4 Wimbledon Surrey
5 Huish Episcopi Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Malvern Hills 002 Malvern Hills
2 South Somerset 020 South Somerset
3 West Dorset 012 West Dorset
4 Liverpool 016 Liverpool
5 Epping Forest 014 Epping Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sawtell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sawtell

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

Sawtell 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

Sawtell 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 Sawtell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sawtell

The surname Sawtell is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is a locational name, derived from a place called Sawtry in Huntingdonshire. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "salu" meaning "willow" and "treow" meaning "tree," suggesting that it referred to a willow tree or a place where willows grew.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Sawtell can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Saluetreu." This entry provides evidence that the name was in use in England during the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various records as "Sawtrey" and "Sautre," reflecting the evolving spellings over time. One notable bearer of the name was Robert de Sawtry, a 14th-century English theologian and Oxford University tutor, who was born around 1300 and died in 1402.

Another historical figure with the surname Sawtell was Sir William Sawtell, a 16th-century English landowner and Member of Parliament for Warwickshire. He was born in 1520 and died in 1583.

In the 17th century, the name was recorded in various forms, such as "Sawtell," "Sawtle," and "Sautell." One notable bearer was Richard Sawtell, an English clergyman and author who lived from 1646 to 1693.

In the 18th century, the name appears in records as "Sawtell" and "Sautell." One noteworthy individual was John Sawtell, an English merchant and shipowner who was born in 1733 and died in 1810.

In the 19th century, the spelling "Sawtell" became more standardized. One prominent figure was Henry Sawtell, an English architect and surveyor who was born in 1808 and died in 1887. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sawtell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sawtell 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. Somerset leads with 80 Sawtells recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.05x.

County Total Index
Somerset 80 23.05x
Middlesex 25 1.16x
Yorkshire 23 1.08x
Surrey 22 2.09x
Monmouthshire 14 8.98x
Wiltshire 14 7.34x
Gloucestershire 10 2.37x
Dorset 7 4.95x
Warwickshire 6 1.10x
Lancashire 5 0.20x
Worcestershire 5 1.78x
Sussex 3 0.83x
Carmarthenshire 2 2.20x
Kent 2 0.27x
Berkshire 1 0.62x
Channel Islands 1 1.57x
Hertfordshire 1 0.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Somerton in Somerset leads with 17 Sawtells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1197.18x.

Place Total Index
Somerton 17 1197.18x
Sheffield 15 22.06x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 12 404.04x
Croydon 11 18.86x
Bradford On Avon 9 147.54x
Portishead 8 310.08x
Huish Episcopi 7 1428.57x
Paddington London 7 8.83x
Shapwick 7 2121.21x
Wimbledon 7 59.37x
Aston 6 4.01x
Clevedon 6 166.21x
St Pancras London 6 3.46x
Shipham 5 1666.67x
Stourbridge 5 69.06x
Bristol St James St Paul 4 28.37x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 4 10.05x
Heeley 4 61.63x
Melksham 4 120.85x
Sherborne 4 95.92x
Yeovil 4 56.74x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 3 41.04x
Brighton 3 4.09x
Ealing 3 15.57x
Fivehead 3 967.74x
Hackney London 3 2.48x
High Ham 3 361.45x
Liverpool 3 1.93x
Martock 3 132.74x
Nether Compton 3 1034.48x
Puriton 3 535.71x
Bristol St James In 2 32.15x
Islington London 2 0.96x
Kingston On Thames 2 7.93x
Langport Eastover 2 400.00x
Laugharne 2 166.67x
Mark 2 246.91x
Trevethin 2 13.59x
Winscombe 2 212.77x
Bath St Michael 1 57.14x
Bedminster 1 3.07x
Blackburn 1 1.47x
Bridgewater 1 10.62x
Butleigh 1 175.44x
Charlcombe 1 217.39x
Clapham 1 3.71x
Donhead St Mary 1 103.09x
East Lydford 1 833.33x
Eltham 1 23.20x
Halifax 1 3.19x
Kensington London 1 0.83x
Kilmington 1 277.78x
Langport 1 588.24x
Lewisham 1 2.55x
Oldham 1 1.21x
Reading St Mary 1 7.72x
St George Hanover 1 3.55x
St Peter Port 1 8.46x
Tottenham 1 2.91x
Wandsworth 1 4.82x
Watford 1 8.68x
Westminster St 1 12.58x

Top female names

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

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sawtell 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 10
James 9
Charles 8
Joseph 6
Walter 5
Arthur 4
Henry 4
Herbert 4
Alfred 3
Francis 3
Frederick 3
Thomas 3
Benjamin 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Beaucher 1
Benjamine 1
Edwin 1
Elisha 1
F. 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Hy.W. 1
Jas.R. 1
Oliver 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1
Theodore 1
Thos. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Sawtell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sawtell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 221 people were recorded with the Sawtell surname. That placed it at #12,049 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sawtell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 318 in 2016. That gives Sawtell a modern rank of #14,159.

What does the Sawtell surname mean?

A surname likely locational in origin, derived from a place name meaning "mill stream valley."

What does the Sawtell map show?

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