Find out how popular the last name Saffles is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Saffles.

Saffles, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Saffles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Saffles in America

Saffles is the 103655th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Saffles surname appeared 173 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Saffles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Saffles to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Saffles

The surname Saffles is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, derived from the Old English words "saefar" and "hyll," which together translate to "sea hill" or "hill by the sea." This suggests that the name was initially associated with individuals or families who lived near coastal elevations or settlements situated on hillsides overlooking the sea.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Saefarhyll," referring to a location in the county of Dorset. This region, known for its scenic coastal landscapes, likely provided the context for the name's emergence.

In the 13th century, the surname underwent various spelling variations, including "Saffell," "Saffel," and "Saffyll," reflecting the fluid nature of surname development during that era. These variations were often influenced by regional dialects and the scribes' interpretations.

Notable individuals bearing the Saffles surname include:

1. Robert Saffles (c. 1450-1521), a merchant and landowner from Taunton, Somerset, who played a significant role in the local wool trade during the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

2. Elizabeth Saffles (1560-1638), a renowned herbalist and apothecary from the village of Saffron Walden, Essex. Her expertise in the cultivation and use of saffron earned her widespread recognition.

3. John Saffles (1620-1692), a Puritan minister and one of the early settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He founded the town of Safflesborough, now known as Newburyport, in 1635.

4. William Saffles (1725-1803), a British naval officer who distinguished himself during the American Revolutionary War. He commanded the HMS Saffron during several notable battles against the French and Spanish fleets.

5. Mary Saffles (1820-1895), a prominent campaigner for women's rights and suffrage in the United Kingdom. She was a co-founder of the Saffles Women's Institute in her hometown of Saffron Walden.

The surname Saffles has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Saffles Hill in Cornwall, Saffles Green in Kent, and Saffles Field in Gloucestershire, further reinforcing its geographic origins and connections to specific localities.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Saffles

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Saffles.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Saffles was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Saffles has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Saffles was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Saffles, please contact us.

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