Sadler
An occupational surname referring to one who made or sold saddles.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 24,987 Americans carry the last name Sadler. That puts it at #1,678 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 7.29 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 13,717 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Sadler surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
25K
1 in 13,717
Census rank
#1,678
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
7.3
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
22K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 21,504 bearers of the surname Sadler in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 7.29 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1678th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Sadler, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.2%. The next largest groups are Black (14.2%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Sadler
The surname SADLER is an English occupational surname derived from the Old English word "sadel", meaning "saddle". It originated in medieval England, where it referred to a person who made and repaired saddles for horses.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sadelhiere" in Derbyshire. This suggests that the name had already become an established surname by the late 11th century.
During the Middle Ages, SADLER was a common surname in various regions of England, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Warwickshire. It was also found in some areas of Scotland, where it may have been adopted by English settlers or tradesmen.
One notable early bearer of the name was Geoffrey Sadler, a merchant and alderman in the city of London, who lived in the late 13th and early 14th centuries. Another was John Sadler, a renowned mathematician and astronomer, born in Oxfordshire in 1615.
In the 16th century, the SADLER surname appeared in historical records related to the English Reformation. Sir Ralph Sadler (1507-1587) was a prominent statesman and diplomat who served under King Henry VIII and Queen Elizabeth I. He played a crucial role in the negotiations with Mary, Queen of Scots, during her imprisonment in England.
The SADLER name was also associated with the English Civil War in the 17th century. John Sadler (1615-1674) was a Puritan clergyman and writer who supported the Parliamentarian cause during the conflict.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, several notable individuals with the surname SADLER made significant contributions in various fields. Michael Thomas Sadler (1780-1835) was a social reformer and Member of Parliament who campaigned for factory reform and the abolition of child labor. Sir Michael Sadler (1861-1943) was a prominent educationalist and civil servant who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Leeds.
Over the centuries, the SADLER surname has undergone various spelling variations, including Sadeler, Sadeler, Sadler, and Saddler, reflecting regional dialects and scribal preferences. However, the core meaning and origin of the name have remained unchanged, tracing back to its occupational roots in medieval England.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Sadler
Among Census respondents with the surname Sadler, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.2%. The next largest groups are Black (14.2%) and Hispanic (2.5%).
The bar chart below shows how Sadler bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Sadler surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White80.2%
- Black or African American14.2%
- Hispanic or Latino2.5%
- Two or more races2.0%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.6%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Sadler surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,678 | #1,678 | 0.0% |
| Count | 21,504 | 21,504 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 7.29 | 7.29 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Sadler bearers went from 21,504 to 21,504 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,678 to #1,678.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Sadler
FAQ
Sadler surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Sadler?
The surname Sadler holds position #1,678 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 24,987 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 7.29 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Sadler surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Sadler, the largest self-reported group is White at 80.2%. The next largest groups are Black (14.2%) and Hispanic (2.5%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.