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

Sawyerr, 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 Sawyerr surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sawyerr in America

Sawyerr is the 123796th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sawyerr surname appeared 139 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 Sawyerr.

The history of the last name Sawyerr

The surname SAWYERR has its origins in England, tracing back to the medieval period. It is an occupational name derived from the Old English word "sawere," which referred to a person who sawed wood or timber for a living, typically a sawyer or a woodcutter.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SAWYERR can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record from 1273, where it appears as "Sawiere." This suggests that the name was already well-established by the late 13th century in parts of England.

The name SAWYERR has been associated with various locations throughout England, particularly in areas where the timber industry was prominent. For example, it was common in counties like Sussex, Kent, and Hampshire, where woodlands and forests were plentiful, providing ample employment opportunities for sawyers.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as "Sauyer" and "Sawiere," reflecting the evolution of the English language and regional variations in pronunciation and spelling. One notable historical figure bearing this surname was John Sawyerr, a wealthy merchant from London who lived during the reign of King Edward III (1312-1377).

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the SAWYERR surname continued to be well-represented in various parts of England. One notable individual was Richard Sawyerr (1562-1642), a landowner and member of the gentry from Wiltshire. Another prominent figure was Thomas Sawyerr (1616-1695), a renowned Puritan minister and author from Oxfordshire.

As the British Empire expanded in the 18th and 19th centuries, the SAWYERR surname also spread to other parts of the world, including North America, Australia, and various British colonies. One notable bearer of this name was Sir James Sawyerr (1784-1865), a British naval officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Bahamas from 1844 to 1849.

In the 19th century, the SAWYERR surname was also associated with the literary world. One famous example is Mark Twain's fictional character, Tom Sawyerr, the protagonist of the classic novel "The Adventures of Tom Sawyerr" (1876), which was inspired by the author's childhood experiences in Missouri.

Throughout its history, the SAWYERR surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including craftsmen, merchants, landowners, clergymen, and military personnel. Its enduring presence in England and beyond serves as a testament to the importance of the sawyer profession in the country's economic and cultural heritage.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sawyerr

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

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 Sawyerr 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.

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 Sawyerr was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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