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

Saybe, 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 Saybe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Saybe in America

Saybe is the 141140th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Saybe surname appeared 118 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 Saybe.

The history of the last name Saybe

The surname Saybe has its origins in the northwestern regions of England, particularly in Lancashire and Yorkshire, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "sæ," meaning "sea," and the Middle English word "byde," meaning "to dwell." Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived near the sea or by the seashore.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Saybe can be found in the Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire from 1379, where it appears as "Sayby." This variation in spelling is typical of surnames from that era, as they often evolved and were adapted based on regional dialects and variations in pronunciation.

During the 15th century, the Saybe family was prominent in the town of Kirkham, Lancashire. Several members of the family are mentioned in local records, including Richard Saybe, who served as a church warden in 1457, and John Saybe, a landowner in the same area in 1482.

In the 16th century, the name Saybe appeared in various legal documents and court records, suggesting that the family had gained a certain level of prominence and influence. One notable example is William Saybe, who was involved in a land dispute in Yorkshire in 1537.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings in England compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname Saybe. However, it does mention several place names that may have influenced the development of the name, such as "Sebbe" and "Seyby," which were both located in Yorkshire.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have carried the Saybe surname. One of the earliest was Sir John Saybe (1550-1612), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Lancashire who served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Newton. Another prominent figure was Thomas Saybe (1670-1738), a renowned clockmaker from Yorkshire whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the gentry.

In the 19th century, the Reverend Edward Saybe (1812-1879) was a respected clergyman and author from Lancashire, known for his works on theology and church history. Additionally, William Saybe (1832-1901), a successful businessman from Yorkshire, made significant contributions to the industrial development of the region through his textile manufacturing ventures.

Perhaps the most famous individual with the Saybe surname was Sir Arthur Saybe (1875-1952), a distinguished British diplomat and civil servant who served as the Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire during the First World War and played a crucial role in the negotiations that led to the establishment of modern-day Turkey.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Saybe

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

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

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

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