This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Sawdy family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Sawdy Family History

Sawdy Surname Meaning

English (Devon): variant of Soady perhaps from an unrecorded Middle English female personal name Soude or Soudy Saude or Saudy all possible pet forms of Isoud and Isaud i.e. Isold (see Izzard).

The final -y would represent either a typical Devon and Cornwall pronunciation of final -e or the Middle English hypocoristic suffix -y.

However the absence of any medieval evidence for either the personal name or the surname makes it an uncertain explanation.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Sawdy family from?

You can see how Sawdy families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sawdy family name was found in the USA, the UK, and Canada between 1840 and 1920. The most Sawdy families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 33 Sawdy families living in Devon. This was about 39% of all the recorded Sawdy's in United Kingdom. Devon had the highest population of Sawdy families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sawdy surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Sawdy ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Unpaid Domestic Duties was the top reported job for people in the United Kingdom named Sawdy. 72% of Sawdy women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Sawdy | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Private Means
    15%
  • Housewife
    15%

What Sawdy family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Sawdy. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sawdy census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Sawdy

Passenger Lists

There are 212 immigration records available for the last name Sawdy. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Sawdy immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 929 military records available for the last name Sawdy. For the veterans among your Sawdy ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sawdy military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sawdy family history

Discover More

What is the average Sawdy lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Sawdy life expectancy was at its lowest point in 2004, and highest in 1982. The average life expectancy for Sawdy in 1963 was 65, and 25 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sawdy

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Sawdy ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Sawdy family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial