NameCensus.

UK surname

Saxon

An English surname derived from the Germanic tribe of Saxons, meaning "a Saxon" or "descending from Saxons."

In the 1881 census there were 1,002 people recorded with the Saxon surname, ranking it #3,897 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,564, ranked #3,964, down from #3,897 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and Prescot. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rochdale, Tameside and St. Helens.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Saxon is 1,595 in 2013. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.1%.

1881 census count

1,002

Ranked #3,897

Modern count

1,564

2016, ranked #3,964

Peak year

2013

1,595 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Saxon had 1,002 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,897 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,564 in 2016, ranked #3,964.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,399 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Saxon surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Saxon surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Saxon 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 671 #3,869
1861 historical 503 #5,200
1881 historical 1,002 #3,897
1891 historical 1,069 #3,929
1901 historical 1,296 #3,848
1911 historical 1,399 #3,452
1997 modern 1,468 #3,985
1998 modern 1,482 #4,099
1999 modern 1,528 #4,012
2000 modern 1,542 #3,971
2001 modern 1,503 #3,975
2002 modern 1,520 #4,026
2003 modern 1,502 #3,995
2004 modern 1,500 #3,997
2005 modern 1,484 #3,999
2006 modern 1,502 #3,959
2007 modern 1,508 #3,985
2008 modern 1,524 #3,955
2009 modern 1,545 #4,008
2010 modern 1,564 #4,043
2011 modern 1,543 #4,050
2012 modern 1,543 #3,979
2013 modern 1,595 #3,929
2014 modern 1,593 #3,952
2015 modern 1,590 #3,924
2016 modern 1,564 #3,964

Geography

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Where Saxons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, Prescot, Stockport and Middleton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rochdale, Tameside, St. Helens and Rotherham. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 Prescot Lancashire
4 Stockport Lancashire
5 Middleton Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rochdale 020 Rochdale
2 Tameside 013 Tameside
3 St. Helens 022 St. Helens
4 Rotherham 009 Rotherham
5 St. Helens 014 St. Helens

Forenames

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First names often paired with Saxon

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Saxon

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Saxon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Saxon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Saxon 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

Saxon is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Saxon falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Saxon

The surname Saxon has its origins in England, dating back to the 5th and 6th centuries when the Saxons, a Germanic tribe, invaded and settled in various parts of the country. The name is derived from the Old English word "Seaxe," which referred to this group of people.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land and landholders commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Saxun" and "Saxone," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling during that time.

The surname was particularly prevalent in areas where Saxon settlements were established, such as Sussex, Essex, Middlesex, and parts of Wessex. Some notable individuals bearing the surname include John Saxon (c. 1235-1300), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Essex, and William Saxon (c. 1420-1491), a prominent clergyman who served as the Bishop of Dunkeld in Scotland.

During the Middle Ages, the surname was sometimes associated with specific locations, giving rise to variations like Saxonbury and Saxondale. One noteworthy example is Sir John de Saxondale (c. 1320-1390), a English knight and landowner from Saxondale, a village in Nottinghamshire.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname continued to be found across England, with individuals such as Thomas Saxon (c. 1550-1612), a successful merchant and alderman in London, and Elizabeth Saxon (c. 1630-1690), a Puritan writer and poet from Essex.

Another notable figure was Miles Saxon (1662-1719), a renowned English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics and the calculation of planetary orbits.

As the centuries progressed, the surname spread to other parts of the world through migration and exploration, with individuals like John Saxon (1785-1848), an English-born merchant and businessman who established a successful trading company in Calcutta, India.

While the surname has maintained its presence throughout history, its origins can be traced back to the Saxon settlers who played a pivotal role in shaping the cultural and linguistic landscape of England during the early medieval period.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Saxon families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Saxon 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. Lancashire leads with 573 Saxons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.99x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 573 4.99x
Cheshire 132 6.17x
Staffordshire 64 1.96x
Middlesex 37 0.38x
Derbyshire 30 1.98x
Yorkshire 26 0.27x
Surrey 19 0.40x
Devon 18 0.89x
Essex 16 0.84x
Durham 11 0.38x
Cornwall 10 0.91x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.77x
Brecknockshire 9 4.65x
Somerset 8 0.51x
Norfolk 7 0.47x
Warwickshire 5 0.20x
Lanarkshire 3 0.10x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.33x
Glamorgan 2 0.12x
Hampshire 2 0.10x
Hertfordshire 2 0.30x
Northumberland 2 0.14x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.38x
Monmouthshire 1 0.14x
Royal Navy 1 0.87x
Sussex 1 0.06x
Westmorland 1 0.47x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton Under Lyne in Lancashire leads with 147 Saxons recorded in 1881 and an index of 58.52x.

Place Total Index
Ashton Under Lyne 147 58.52x
Oldham 86 23.18x
Dukinfield 64 64.78x
Manchester 57 11.03x
Parr 36 87.55x
Middleton In Oldham 30 87.06x
Tipton 27 26.97x
Openshaw 21 39.01x
Beswick 17 57.84x
Chorlton On Medlock 17 9.31x
Hayfield 14 150.54x
Sutton 14 36.32x
West Ham 14 3.32x
Glossop Dale 12 16.90x
Warrington 12 8.81x
Heap 10 16.40x
West Bromwich 10 5.34x
Ardwick 9 8.68x
Claughton With Grange 9 92.40x
Hackney London 9 1.66x
Lambeth 9 1.07x
Llangattock 9 57.03x
Mansfield 9 19.92x
Newton In Ashton Under 9 42.65x
Preston 9 2.93x
Royton 9 25.60x
Stayley 9 36.82x
Bruton 8 130.51x
Falmouth 8 20.61x
Islington London 8 0.85x
Barnstaple 7 22.12x
Broughton In Salford 7 6.66x
Cannock 7 12.27x
Eccleston In Prescot 7 12.13x
Hopwood 7 46.57x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 2.02x
West Derby 7 2.08x
Wigan 7 4.36x
Birtle Cum Bamford 6 80.00x
St Marylebone London 6 1.16x
Carshalton 5 27.69x
East Stonehouse 5 12.59x
Harborne 5 4.77x
Hyde 5 7.93x
Layton With Warbreck 5 11.85x
Macclesfield 5 5.26x
Tintwistle 5 43.74x
Wells Next Sea 5 57.60x
Windle 5 7.73x
Bishopwearmouth 4 1.62x
Cleckheaton 4 11.31x
Hollingworth 4 45.35x
Kimberworth 4 7.51x
Monk Bretton 4 41.15x
Over Darwen 4 4.36x
Radcliffe 4 7.22x
St Martin In Fields 4 6.90x
Stretford 4 6.33x
Wardleworth 4 6.09x
Werneth 4 59.70x
Wolstanton Knutton 4 20.04x
Aston 3 0.45x
Batley 3 3.29x
Blackburn 3 0.98x
Castleton 3 2.61x
Dunham Massey 3 45.80x
Gorton 3 2.78x
Hetton Le Hole 3 8.21x
Hulme 3 1.25x
Reddish 3 18.95x
Sharples 3 24.06x
Stone 3 7.17x
Upton In Chester 3 125.52x
West Herrington 3 29.70x
Whitwell 3 49.75x
Elland Cum Greetland 2 4.63x
March 2 9.74x
Newton 2 2.26x
St George Martyr 2 12.25x
St Giles Cripplegate 2 15.55x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 85
Sarah 45
Hannah 33
Elizabeth 26
Ann 24
Jane 20
Alice 19
Ellen 18
Betty 13
Eliza 13
Annie 10
Louisa 10
Margaret 10
Emma 8
Harriet 7
Ada 6
Caroline 6
Charlotte 6
Emily 6
Martha 6
Amelia 5
Bertha 5
Clara 4
Edith 4
Rachel 4
Blanche 3
Elisabeth 3
Esther 3
Ethel 3
Fanny 3
Lizzie 3
Margeret 3
Rachael 3
Selina 3
Allice 2
Amy 2
Anna 2
Catherine 2
Cecily 2
Dorothy 2
Florence 2
Lavinia 2
Lucy 2
Minnie 2
Molly 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Beatrice 1
Clarence 1
Clarina 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 73
William 56
Joseph 43
James 41
Samuel 32
Thomas 32
George 20
Robert 18
Alfred 11
Henry 11
Edward 8
Albert 7
Arthur 7
Herbert 7
Harry 6
Walter 6
Charles 5
Frank 5
Frederick 5
Richard 5
Saml. 5
Wm. 5
Ernest 4
Daniel 3
Edwin 3
Nicholas 3
Ralph 3
Abraham 2
Allen 2
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
Fred 2
Harold 2
Jas. 2
Joe 2
Nicolas 2
Thos. 2
Beatrice 1
Ben 1
Ellen 1
Ellis 1
Enoch 1
Erwot 1
Frederic 1
Geo. 1
Jessie 1
Job 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Saxon surname: questions and answers

How common was the Saxon surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,002 people were recorded with the Saxon surname. That placed it at #3,897 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Saxon surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,564 in 2016. That gives Saxon a modern rank of #3,964.

What does the Saxon surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Germanic tribe of Saxons, meaning "a Saxon" or "descending from Saxons."

What does the Saxon map show?

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