UK surname
A primarily English surname of Anglo-Norman origin, derived from the French word "saie" meaning a serge cloth.
In the 1881 census there were 45 people recorded with the Sayes surname, ranking it #27,314 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 28, ranked #36,125, down from #27,314 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, London parishes and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sayes is 113 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 37.8%.
1881 census count
45
Ranked #27,314
Modern count
28
2016, ranked #36,125
Peak year
1891
113 bearers
Map years
1
1891 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sayes surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sayes surname density by area, 1891 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 | 42 | #25,706 |
| 1861 | historical | 83 | #23,189 |
| 1881 | historical | 45 | #27,314 |
| 1891 | historical | 113 | #22,162 |
| 1901 | historical | 79 | #25,363 |
| 1911 | historical | 44 | #28,454 |
| 1997 | modern | 29 | #34,795 |
| 1998 | modern | 19 | #36,009 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 28 | #35,080 |
| 2001 | modern | 22 | #35,531 |
| 2002 | modern | 25 | #35,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 29 | #35,129 |
| 2004 | modern | 27 | #35,444 |
| 2005 | modern | 25 | #35,752 |
| 2006 | modern | 26 | #35,822 |
| 2007 | modern | 27 | #35,876 |
| 2008 | modern | 28 | #35,875 |
| 2009 | modern | 28 | #35,988 |
| 2010 | modern | 32 | #35,848 |
| 2011 | modern | 28 | #36,071 |
| 2012 | modern | 26 | #36,166 |
| 2013 | modern | 28 | #36,096 |
| 2014 | modern | 26 | #36,244 |
| 2015 | modern | 24 | #36,364 |
| 2016 | modern | 28 | #36,125 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean, London parishes, Lambeth, Merthyr Tydfil and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. 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 | Newland (Bream, Clearwell, Newland, Coleford), West Dean | Monmouthshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Merthyr Tydfil | Glamorganshire |
| 5 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sayes 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 Sayes, 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 Sayes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sayes 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, Sayes 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 Sayes is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sayes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SAYES has its origins in England, with the first recorded instances dating back to the early 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the Old English word "sæge," meaning a small wood or thicket. This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or worked in a forested area.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Walter de Saye, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1221. The name also appeared in various spellings, such as Saye, Saye, and Seyes, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common in medieval times.
In the 14th century, the SAYES name gained prominence when John Saye served as a member of the retinue of Edward the Black Prince during the Hundred Years' War. He fought alongside the prince at the Battle of Crécy in 1346 and was later appointed as the Constable of the Household.
The SAYES name can be found in several historical records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is recorded as "Sai" in Oxfordshire. The name is also associated with various place names, such as Saye's Court in Kent, which was once owned by a family bearing the SAYES surname.
Notable individuals with the SAYES surname include Sir James Sayes (1610-1672), an English politician and Member of Parliament during the English Civil War. Another prominent figure was Thomas Sayes (1675-1748), an English merchant and philanthropist who founded the Sayes Court School in London.
In the realm of literature, James Sayes (1784-1862) was a renowned English poet and writer, best known for his works on nature and rural life. William Sayes (1832-1903), on the other hand, was a prominent architect who designed several notable buildings in London during the Victorian era.
The SAYES surname also has connections to the United States, with one of the earliest recorded instances being John Sayes, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. Over the centuries, the name has been carried by various individuals who have contributed to various fields, including politics, business, and the arts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sayes 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. Monmouthshire leads with 10 Sayes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.53x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Monmouthshire | 10 | 31.53x |
| Glamorgan | 8 | 10.47x |
| Cardiganshire | 6 | 56.07x |
| Middlesex | 5 | 1.14x |
| Lancashire | 4 | 0.77x |
| Yorkshire | 4 | 0.92x |
| Kent | 2 | 1.34x |
| Surrey | 2 | 0.94x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 2.65x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.16x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.42x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 1.75x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bedwellty in Monmouthshire leads with 10 Sayes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 178.57x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bedwellty | 10 | 178.57x |
| Cardigan St Mary | 6 | 1463.41x |
| Llantrisant | 6 | 310.88x |
| Ashton Under Lyne | 4 | 35.15x |
| St Marylebone London | 4 | 17.07x |
| Bromley | 2 | 87.72x |
| Holbeck | 2 | 69.44x |
| Bath St Michael | 1 | 277.78x |
| Caldewgate | 1 | 48.31x |
| Camberwell | 1 | 3.57x |
| Cardiff St Mary | 1 | 23.75x |
| Croydon | 1 | 8.42x |
| Hunslet | 1 | 14.75x |
| Kidderminster Foreign | 1 | 123.46x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 1 | 13.62x |
| Mile End Old Town | 1 | 14.43x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 7.23x |
| Tidenham Beachley | 1 | 1111.11x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sayes 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 Sayes 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 Sayes households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Coal Miner | 3 |
| Coal Haulier | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| (D) | 1 |
| Agricultural Labr | 1 |
| Bricklayer Labourer | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Dressmaker | 1 |
| Engine Driver | 1 |
| Farm Servant Indoor | 1 |
| Grinder (C M) | 1 |
| Milliner | 1 |
| Needlework | 1 |
| Reeler | 1 |
| Speed Tenter | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Waistcoat Maker | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 45 people were recorded with the Sayes surname. That placed it at #27,314 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 28 in 2016. That gives Sayes a modern rank of #36,125.
A primarily English surname of Anglo-Norman origin, derived from the French word "saie" meaning a serge cloth.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sayes 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.