Sayer Name Origin, Meaning and Family History

Sayer Name Meaning: A derivative of the medieval personal name 'Saher' or 'Seir',loosley translates as 'victory-army'. Secondly an occupational name for a wood cutter 'Sayhare'/'Sawyer'. Thirdly occupational for assaying metals or tasting food ,from French 'essay' meaning 'trial' or 'test'. 'Assayer'.

The plural spelling iof the name is a patronymic form,meaning 'son of Sayer'. An example recording would be that of 'William Sayers',dated 1634.

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Surname Distribution

Census frequency by county

Name Concentrations Within England and Wales

Sayer Surname Statistics


Top Professions for the Sayer family

Profession Census Frequency
Scholar 396
Agricultural Labourer 127
House Servant 59
Servant 38
At Home 32
Dress Maker 31
Farm Labourer 27
Labourer 26
Carpenter 21
Pauper 17
Tailor 17
Shoe Maker 15
Annuitant 15
Scholar At Home 15
Laundress 15
Farm Servant 15
General Servant 14
Butcher 12
Weaver 11
Errand Boy 10
House Keeper 9
Gardener 9
Wife Of Above 9
Ag Labourer 8
Boot Maker 7

Sayer Surname Variants Ranking

Rank Surname Match Census Frequency
1 Sayer 100% 28,534
2 Syer 80% 3,390
3 Sawer 80% 3,359
4 Soyer 80% 216
5 Syre 40% 167
6 Seyer 80% 148
7 Sayor 80% 142

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The surname Sayer is the most popular version of all its varients

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