NameCensus.

UK surname

Syer

A variant spelling of the English occupational surname Sawyer, referring to one who saws or cuts wood.

In the 1881 census there were 320 people recorded with the Syer surname, ranking it #9,298 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 221, ranked #18,321, down from #9,298 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Gressenhall, Longham, London parishes and St James Clerkenwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire and Breckland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Syer is 408 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.9%.

1881 census count

320

Ranked #9,298

Modern count

221

2016, ranked #18,321

Peak year

1901

408 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Syer had 320 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,298 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016, ranked #18,321.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 408 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Syer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Syer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Syer 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 381 #6,272
1861 historical 364 #7,023
1881 historical 320 #9,298
1891 historical 362 #9,569
1901 historical 408 #9,358
1911 historical 388 #9,497
1997 modern 271 #14,486
1998 modern 275 #14,715
1999 modern 280 #14,630
2000 modern 259 #15,390
2001 modern 256 #15,273
2002 modern 244 #16,085
2003 modern 233 #16,394
2004 modern 248 #15,779
2005 modern 222 #16,983
2006 modern 215 #17,441
2007 modern 216 #17,575
2008 modern 217 #17,693
2009 modern 214 #18,220
2010 modern 231 #17,711
2011 modern 237 #17,235
2012 modern 225 #17,733
2013 modern 228 #17,864
2014 modern 229 #17,925
2015 modern 220 #18,346
2016 modern 221 #18,321

Geography

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Where Syers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Gressenhall, Longham, London parishes, St James Clerkenwell, Manchester and Woodbridge. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire and Breckland. 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 Gressenhall, Longham Norfolk
2 London parishes London 3
3 St James Clerkenwell London (Central Districts)
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Woodbridge Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 019 North East Lincolnshire
2 Breckland 005 Breckland
3 Breckland 007 Breckland
4 North East Lincolnshire 008 North East Lincolnshire
5 North East Lincolnshire 015 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Syer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Syer

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Syer 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

Syer 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

Syer falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Syer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Syer

The surname SYER has its origins in medieval England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "syr," which referred to a small stream or rivulet. This suggests that the name might have originally been a topographic surname, given to someone who lived near a small stream or brook.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SYER surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, where a person named William Syre is mentioned. This document provides valuable insight into the early use and spelling variations of the name.

In the 13th century, the SYER surname appeared in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1273, which lists a Radulfus le Syre. This record highlights the use of the Norman-French prefix "le," indicating that the name was in use among the Norman settlers in England at the time.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the SYER surname. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the name, such as Syre in Gloucestershire and Syresham in Northamptonshire.

Over the centuries, the SYER surname has been subject to various spelling variations, including Syer, Syre, Sire, and Syres. These variations reflect the inconsistencies in record-keeping and the evolution of language during the medieval and early modern periods.

Notable individuals with the SYER surname throughout history include:

1. Sir Thomas Syer (c. 1550-1623), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire. 2. John Syer (1633-1705), an English Baptist minister and author of several theological works. 3. Robert Syer (1795-1870), a British architect known for his work on churches and other buildings in London. 4. Elizabeth Syer (1823-1897), an English author and philanthropist who established several schools for underprivileged children. 5. Alfred Syer (1876-1946), a British artist and illustrator known for his etchings and watercolors depicting rural life in England.

These examples demonstrate the historical presence of the SYER surname across various professions and social strata, from politicians and clergy to architects and artists.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Syer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Syer 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. Middlesex leads with 91 Syers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.90x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 91 2.90x
Suffolk 84 21.96x
Norfolk 59 12.22x
Lancashire 20 0.54x
Surrey 20 1.31x
Kent 16 1.49x
Essex 10 1.61x
Cheshire 3 0.43x
Hampshire 3 0.47x
Hertfordshire 3 1.39x
Lincolnshire 3 0.60x
Sussex 3 0.57x
Westmorland 3 4.35x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.76x
Devon 1 0.15x
Royal Navy 1 2.67x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 18 Syers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.22x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 18 10.22x
Longham 18 5142.86x
Hornsey 17 42.80x
Stretford 13 63.38x
Brandon 11 423.08x
Bethnal Green London 10 7.33x
Kedington 10 990.10x
Stowmarket 9 203.62x
Bramford 7 486.11x
Penge 7 34.90x
Wangford 7 972.22x
Canterbury St Peter 6 495.87x
Clerkenwell London 6 8.09x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 6 169.01x
Mile End Old Town 6 12.10x
Plumstead 6 16.80x
St Marylebone London 6 3.58x
Harwich St Nicholas 5 104.38x
Ipswich St Margaret 5 38.52x
St Pancras London 5 1.98x
Twickenham 5 37.12x
Diss 4 96.62x
Great Saxham 4 1538.46x
Hammersmith London 4 5.17x
Hampstead London 4 8.18x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 4 27.59x
Rayleigh 4 279.72x
Rotherhithe 4 10.31x
Snetterton 4 1818.18x
Sporle With Palgrave 4 512.82x
St George Hanover 4 9.76x
Woolpit 4 360.36x
Appleby St Michael 3 193.55x
Birkenhead 3 5.43x
Bradfield St George 3 625.00x
Chorlton On Medlock 3 5.07x
East Lexham 3 1428.57x
Hitcham 3 312.50x
Holbeach 3 53.67x
Ipswich St Clement 3 30.83x
Kenninghall 3 225.56x
Lambeth 3 1.10x
Newington 3 2.59x
Salford 3 2.74x
Bildeston 2 238.10x
Broadwater 2 16.46x
Ipswich St Peter 2 38.84x
Limehouse London 2 5.80x
Linton 2 212.77x
Melton 2 132.45x
Newport 2 57.31x
Scarning 2 277.78x
Southwark Christchurch 2 13.59x
Tottenham 2 4.00x
Woodbridge 2 40.90x
Alderton 1 175.44x
Bawdsey 1 217.39x
Bengeo 1 39.84x
Brading 1 11.68x
Bury St Edmunds St James 1 9.78x
Croydon 1 1.18x
East Bergholt 1 78.13x
East Dereham 1 16.39x
Great Ellingham 1 140.85x
Hadleigh 1 26.95x
Hove 1 4.30x
Ingham 1 322.58x
Knebworth 1 357.14x
Llanglydwen 1 312.50x
Long Melford 1 28.09x
Norton 1 125.00x
Norwich St Peter Mancroft 1 41.32x
Onehouse 1 270.27x
Royal Navy 1 3.13x
Southwold 1 44.25x
St Andrew Holborn 1 9.39x
St Martin In Fields 1 5.32x
Stradbroke 1 77.52x
Tonbridge 1 2.59x
West Derby 1 0.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 16
Elizabeth 11
Alice 9
Emily 8
Emma 6
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Caroline 4
Florence 4
Maud 4
Sarah 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Harriet 3
Jane 3
Mabel 3
Martha 3
Ada 2
Anna 2
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Ellen 2
Ethel 2
Flora 2
Harriett 2
Isabella 2
Margaret 2
Sophia 2
Violet 2
Amy 1
Bessie 1
Betsey 1
Brabner 1
Eliz. 1
Fanny 1
Grace 1
H. 1
J. 1
Jeannete 1
Kate 1
Kezia 1
Lily 1
Liza 1
Louisa 1
Lydia 1
M.A. 1
Maria 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 28
John 24
Alfred 9
James 9
Thomas 6
Walter 6
Charles 5
Harry 4
Henry 4
Edward 3
Frank 3
Frederick 3
George 3
Arthur 2
Barrington 2
Daniel 2
Fred 2
Jas. 2
Richard 2
Robert 2
Benjamin 1
David 1
E. 1
Edgar 1
Edmond 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Eliz. 1
Ernest 1
Felvel 1
Fred. 1
Fredk. 1
Geo.Harry 1
Herbert 1
Hubert 1
Isaac 1
Jonah 1
Jonas 1
Joseph 1
M... 1
Milton 1
R.W. 1
Robt. 1
Roger 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
W. 1
W.E. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Syer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Syer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 320 people were recorded with the Syer surname. That placed it at #9,298 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Syer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 221 in 2016. That gives Syer a modern rank of #18,321.

What does the Syer surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English occupational surname Sawyer, referring to one who saws or cuts wood.

What does the Syer map show?

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