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

Sayer, 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 Sayer surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sayer in America

Sayer is the 9573rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sayer surname appeared 3,395 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Sayer.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sayer 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 Sayer

The surname Sayer originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old French word 'sair', meaning to say or speak. The name was initially used as an occupational surname for public speakers, town criers, or reciters of poetry and stories.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Sayer can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which lists a person named Willielmus le Sayer in Gloucestershire. This suggests that the name was already well-established in England by the late 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Sayer family was primarily concentrated in the counties of Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Wiltshire. The name was often spelled differently, such as Sayere, Saiare, or Sayre, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling practices of the time.

One notable individual with the surname Sayer was Sir Ralph Sayer (c. 1330-1397), a wealthy landowner and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of King Richard II. He played a significant role in the Peasants' Revolt of 1381, supporting the demands of the peasants against the oppressive poll tax.

Another prominent figure was William Sayer (1548-1625), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Provost of Oriel College, Oxford. He was known for his contributions to the study of theology and his influential sermons.

In the 17th century, the Sayer family gained prominence in the town of Waltham St. Lawrence in Berkshire, where they owned substantial estates. Robert Sayer (1608-1679) was a prominent landowner and local magistrate, and his son, also named Robert Sayer (1636-1719), became a successful publisher and map-maker in London.

During the 18th century, Thomas Sayer (1701-1765) was a renowned British prizefighter, known for his skill and sportsmanship in the bare-knuckle boxing era. He was one of the first athletes to achieve celebrity status and is considered a pioneer of modern boxing.

In the literary world, James Sayer (1748-1823) was a respected English writer and editor who published several works on history, geography, and education. He also served as the editor of the renowned Annual Register, a yearly chronicle of world events.

Throughout its history, the surname Sayer has been associated with various professions, including clergymen, landowners, publishers, athletes, and writers. Despite its occupational origins, the name has endured and spread across different regions, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of those who have borne this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sayer

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

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

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

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