UK surname
An occupational surname for a tailor, one who makes or alters clothing.
In the 1881 census there were 13 people recorded with the Saylor surname, ranking it #31,761 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 17, ranked #36,904, down from #31,761 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, Leeds and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Saylor is 1,049 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 30.8%.
1881 census count
13
Ranked #31,761
Modern count
17
2016, ranked #36,904
Peak year
1891
1,049 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Saylor surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Saylor 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 | 113 | #15,815 |
| 1861 | historical | 1,038 | #2,700 |
| 1881 | historical | 13 | #31,761 |
| 1891 | historical | 1,049 | #3,992 |
| 1901 | historical | 60 | #27,502 |
| 1911 | historical | 20 | #31,288 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 10 | #37,048 |
| 1999 | modern | 10 | #37,072 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 10 | #36,852 |
| 2002 | modern | 10 | #36,902 |
| 2003 | modern | 10 | #36,964 |
| 2004 | modern | 9 | #37,213 |
| 2005 | modern | 11 | #37,065 |
| 2006 | modern | 11 | #37,118 |
| 2007 | modern | 13 | #36,990 |
| 2008 | modern | 17 | #36,699 |
| 2009 | modern | 17 | #36,753 |
| 2010 | modern | 18 | #36,774 |
| 2011 | modern | 15 | #37,030 |
| 2012 | modern | 19 | #36,641 |
| 2013 | modern | 17 | #36,857 |
| 2014 | modern | 18 | #36,811 |
| 2015 | modern | 15 | #37,070 |
| 2016 | modern | 17 | #36,904 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, Leeds, St James Clerkenwell, St Dunstan Stepney and Manchester. 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 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | Leeds | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 3 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 4 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Saylor 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 Saylor, 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 Saylor surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Saylor 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, Saylor 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 Saylor is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Saylor, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Saylor has its origins in the early Middle Ages, emerging from the Old French word "saillor" or "saillour," which means "leaper" or "dancer." This name likely originated in northern France or Normandy around the 11th or 12th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a person named Richard le Saillur was listed as a landowner in Lincolnshire, England. The name was likely brought to England by Norman settlers after the Norman Conquest of 1066.
Over time, the name evolved and took on various spellings, such as Saylor, Saylour, Sailor, and Saylir. These variations were influenced by regional dialects and local scribes' interpretations of the name.
During the 13th century, the name Saylor was found in records from the county of Leicestershire, England. One notable example is Walter le Saillur, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Leicestershire in 1212.
In the 14th century, the surname Saylor appeared in several locations across England. For instance, William Saylir was recorded in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1334, while John Saylour was mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1380.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname Saylor. One such person was Christopher Saylor (1629-1691), an early American settler and landowner in Pennsylvania. Another was Michael Saylor (born 1965), an American entrepreneur and the co-founder of the software company MicroStrategy.
Other notable individuals with the surname Saylor include:
1. George Saylor (1804-1879), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania. 2. Mary Saylor (1853-1927), an American educator and the first woman elected to the board of trustees of Franklin and Marshall College. 3. John Saylor (1925-2014), an American politician who served as a U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania. 4. Ralph Saylor (1891-1966), an American baseball player who played for the Philadelphia Athletics and the St. Louis Browns in the early 20th century.
The surname Saylor has a rich history dating back to the medieval period, with its origins rooted in the Old French language and likely originating in northern France or Normandy. Over the centuries, it has been carried by individuals across various walks of life, from landowners and settlers to politicians, educators, and athletes.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Saylor 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 6 Saylors recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.99x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 6 | 3.99x |
| Yorkshire | 5 | 3.98x |
| Sussex | 2 | 9.35x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Derby in Lancashire leads with 6 Saylors recorded in 1881 and an index of 136.36x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| West Derby | 6 | 136.36x |
| Huddersfield | 4 | 218.58x |
| Brighton | 2 | 46.40x |
| Scarborough | 1 | 87.72x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Saylor 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 Saylor 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 Saylor households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Book Keeper | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Corporation Laborer (Rd) | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Fisherman | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 13 people were recorded with the Saylor surname. That placed it at #31,761 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 17 in 2016. That gives Saylor a modern rank of #36,904.
An occupational surname for a tailor, one who makes or alters clothing.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Saylor 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.