NameCensus.

UK surname

Sayers

An occupational surname referring to someone who assayed metals or tasted food for poisons.

In the 1881 census there were 3,316 people recorded with the Sayers surname, ranking it #1,367 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,073, ranked #1,338, up from #1,367 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hurstpierpoint, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Mid Sussex and Rother.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sayers is 5,351 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.0%.

1881 census count

3,316

Ranked #1,367

Modern count

5,073

2016, ranked #1,338

Peak year

1999

5,351 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sayers had 3,316 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,367 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,073 in 2016, ranked #1,338.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,203 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sayers surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sayers surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sayers 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 1,560 #1,841
1861 historical 1,852 #1,564
1881 historical 3,316 #1,367
1891 historical 3,278 #1,446
1901 historical 4,008 #1,408
1911 historical 4,203 #1,239
1997 modern 5,149 #1,269
1998 modern 5,320 #1,278
1999 modern 5,351 #1,281
2000 modern 5,250 #1,295
2001 modern 5,117 #1,295
2002 modern 5,169 #1,309
2003 modern 5,050 #1,310
2004 modern 5,074 #1,303
2005 modern 4,983 #1,312
2006 modern 4,939 #1,322
2007 modern 4,946 #1,332
2008 modern 4,995 #1,333
2009 modern 5,107 #1,332
2010 modern 5,232 #1,329
2011 modern 5,168 #1,326
2012 modern 5,135 #1,307
2013 modern 5,218 #1,312
2014 modern 5,188 #1,326
2015 modern 5,117 #1,332
2016 modern 5,073 #1,338

Geography

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Where Sayers' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hurstpierpoint, London parishes, Lambeth and Horsham, Sullington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, Mid Sussex, Rother and Horsham. 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 Hurstpierpoint Sussex
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Horsham, Sullington Sussex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 013 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Mid Sussex 008 Mid Sussex
3 Rother 007 Rother
4 Horsham 014 Horsham
5 Mid Sussex 014 Mid Sussex

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sayers

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sayers

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Sayers is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sayers is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Sayers

The surname Sayers originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word "sayer", which means "woodcutter" or "sawyer". This occupation-based surname was likely given to someone who worked as a sawyer or woodcutter.

Sayers is an Anglo-Norman surname that first appeared in records after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. The earliest recorded mention of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was spelled as "Saiur".

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms such as "Sayer", "Sayere", and "Seyere". These variations were a result of the inconsistent spelling practices of the time. The surname was also associated with certain place names, such as Sawyers Hill in Gloucestershire and Sawyers in Hampshire.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the Sayers surname was John Sayers, who was born in Oxfordshire in the late 13th century. Another notable figure was William Sayers, a merchant from London who lived during the reign of King Edward III in the 14th century.

In the 16th century, the Sayers family had a strong presence in the county of Yorkshire. Sir Ralph Sayers, born in 1532, was a prominent landowner and served as a Member of Parliament for Ripon.

During the English Civil War in the 17th century, a Royalist soldier named Thomas Sayers gained recognition for his bravery in battle. He was born in Warwickshire in 1620 and fought alongside King Charles I's forces.

In the 19th century, James Sayers, born in 1797 in London, became a renowned bare-knuckle boxer and was known as the "Champion of England" during his prime.

Other notable individuals with the Sayers surname include the American writer Dorothy L. Sayers, born in 1893, who is best known for her Lord Peter Wimsey mystery novels, and the English cricketer Ted Sayers, born in 1884, who played for Somerset County Cricket Club.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sayers families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sayers 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. Sussex leads with 844 Sayers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.51x.

County Total Index
Sussex 844 15.51x
Middlesex 518 1.60x
Surrey 356 2.26x
Yorkshire 224 0.70x
Kent 214 1.94x
Durham 211 2.20x
Essex 158 2.48x
Lancashire 97 0.25x
Norfolk 58 1.17x
Warwickshire 54 0.66x
Worcestershire 53 1.26x
Hampshire 44 0.67x
Staffordshire 37 0.34x
Northumberland 36 0.75x
Somerset 35 0.67x
Suffolk 32 0.81x
Lanarkshire 31 0.30x
Devon 28 0.42x
Gloucestershire 26 0.41x
Cheshire 22 0.31x
Lincolnshire 20 0.39x
Renfrewshire 19 0.76x
Ayrshire 15 0.62x
Buckinghamshire 15 0.77x
Midlothian 12 0.28x
Shropshire 12 0.43x
Berkshire 11 0.45x
Angus 10 0.33x
Herefordshire 10 0.76x
Kirkcudbrightshire 10 2.14x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.21x
Northamptonshire 8 0.26x
Dorset 7 0.33x
Hertfordshire 7 0.31x
Wiltshire 7 0.25x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.29x
Dunbartonshire 6 0.69x
Cornwall 5 0.14x
Glamorgan 5 0.09x
Radnorshire 5 1.92x
Channel Islands 4 0.42x
Denbighshire 4 0.33x
Fife 4 0.21x
Derbyshire 3 0.06x
Perthshire 3 0.21x
Cumberland 2 0.07x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.27x
West Lothian 2 0.41x
Westmorland 2 0.28x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.14x
Flintshire 1 0.12x
Leicestershire 1 0.03x
Monmouthshire 1 0.04x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.10x
Roxburghshire 1 0.17x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Brighton in Sussex leads with 173 Sayers' recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.76x.

Place Total Index
Brighton 173 15.76x
Hurstpierpoint 71 234.40x
Islington London 55 1.76x
Lambeth 47 1.67x
St Pancras London 42 1.62x
Fulham London 38 8.12x
West Ham 34 2.42x
Eastbourne 33 13.18x
Bethnal Green London 31 2.21x
Mile End Old Town 31 6.08x
Broadwater 29 23.23x
Deptford St Paul 29 3.41x
Cuckfield 28 50.94x
Tonbridge 28 7.05x
Filey 27 104.49x
Kensington London 27 1.50x
Hammersmith London 26 3.27x
Leatherhead 25 63.47x
Slinfold 25 292.74x
Ardingly 24 138.73x
Dorking 24 22.73x
Horsham 24 22.70x
Bedminster 23 4.71x
Clayton 23 112.14x
Birmingham 22 0.81x
Chelmsford 22 20.12x
Henfield 22 105.21x
Whitby 22 20.41x
Bishopwearmouth 21 2.55x
St Marylebone London 21 1.22x
Camberwell 20 0.97x
Portsea 20 1.54x
Govan 19 0.74x
Hackney London 19 1.05x
St George Martyr 19 34.92x
Keymer 18 46.84x
Slaugham 18 102.33x
Framwellgate 17 29.88x
Worth 17 43.03x
Benfieldside 16 25.33x
Great Yarmouth 16 3.89x
Chessington 15 559.70x
Croydon 15 1.72x
Maidstone 15 4.57x
Mitcham 15 15.09x
Petworth 15 46.14x
Bermondsey 14 1.46x
Bolney 14 158.37x
Holy Trinity 14 1.82x
Westminster St James 14 4.22x
Albourne 13 384.62x
Clapham 13 3.22x
Cowfold 13 112.95x
East Ham 13 10.99x
Ifield 13 57.27x
Maldon St Peter 13 40.05x
Shermanbury 13 324.19x
St George Hanover 13 3.09x
West Greenock 13 2.90x
West Grinstead 13 79.22x
West Tarring 13 160.49x
Battersea 12 1.01x
Epsom 12 15.66x
Newington 12 1.01x
Aston 11 0.49x
Bow London 11 2.68x
Crimplesham 11 335.37x
Crowle 11 188.03x
Hove 11 4.61x
Limehouse London 11 3.10x
Manningham 11 2.79x
Sheffield 11 1.08x
Woodmancote 11 287.21x
Acton 10 5.28x
Clerkenwell London 10 1.31x
Erith 10 9.22x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 10 2.40x
Hindlip 10 346.02x
Kyo 10 22.12x
Willesden 10 3.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 191
Sarah 109
Elizabeth 105
Jane 68
Eliza 55
Alice 53
Emily 52
Annie 51
Ellen 50
Ann 48
Emma 48
Fanny 30
Hannah 25
Harriet 25
Margaret 24
Ada 23
Louisa 23
Caroline 22
Charlotte 21
Florence 21
Harriett 20
Kate 20
Rose 18
Clara 15
Frances 15
Lucy 14
Catherine 13
Edith 13
Esther 13
Anne 12
Maria 12
Martha 12
Rebecca 12
Amelia 11
Susan 11
Susannah 11
Henrietta 10
Agnes 9
Isabella 9
Jessie 8
Elizth. 7
Gertrude 7
Matilda 7
Sophia 7
Anna 6
Eleanor 6
Julia 6
Maud 6
Rosa 6
Amy 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 223
John 155
George 115
Thomas 115
James 106
Henry 92
Charles 74
Joseph 47
Edward 43
Walter 40
Alfred 38
Robert 33
Samuel 29
Albert 26
Frederick 26
Harry 25
Arthur 22
Edwin 18
Stephen 17
Ernest 16
Richard 16
Herbert 14
Benjamin 12
Frank 12
Thos. 10
Fred 8
Mark 8
Peter 7
Christopher 6
Daniel 6
David 6
Wm. 6
Francis 5
Amos 4
Edmund 4
Isaac 4
Percy 4
Reuben 4
Tom 4
Anthony 3
Chas. 3
Frederic 3
Fredk. 3
Fredrick 3
Jesse 3
Jonathan 3
Leonard 3
Matthew 3
Moses 3
Phillip 3

FAQ

Sayers surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sayers surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,316 people were recorded with the Sayers surname. That placed it at #1,367 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sayers surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,073 in 2016. That gives Sayers a modern rank of #1,338.

What does the Sayers surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who assayed metals or tasted food for poisons.

What does the Sayers map show?

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