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 Savage family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Savage Family History

Savage Surname Meaning

English: of Norman origin a nickname for a wild or uncouth person from Middle English and Old French salvage sauvage ‘wild untamed’ (from Late Latin salvaticus literally ‘man of the woods’ a derivative of Latin silva ‘wood’ influenced by Latin salvus ‘whole’ i.e. natural). Compare French Sauvage.

Irish (Down): generally of English origin (it was taken to County Down in the 12th century) this name has also sometimes been adopted as equivalent of Gaelic Ó Sabháin the name of a small south Munster sept which was earlier Anglicized as O'Savin (see Savin).

Americanized form of Jewish (Ashkenazic) Savich and of Serbian Savić (see Savic).

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 Savage family from?

You can see how Savage families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Savage family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Savage families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 370 Savage families living in Ontario. This was about 38% of all the recorded Savage's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Savage families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Savage 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 Savage ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Stenographer were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Savage. 27% of Savage men worked as a Farmer and 10% of Savage women worked as a Stenographer. Some less common occupations for Americans named Savage were Clerk and Nurse.

View Census Data for Savage | 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 Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    27%
  • Labourer
    11%
  • Laborer
    7%
  • Clerk
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Stenographer
    10%
  • Housekeeper
    10%
  • Teacher
    8%
  • Nurse
    8%

What Savage family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 455,000 census records available for the last name Savage. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Savage census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Savage

Passenger Lists

There are 50,000 immigration records available for the last name Savage. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Savage immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 62,000 military records available for the last name Savage. For the veterans among your Savage ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Savage military records

You've only scratched the surface of Savage family history

Discover More

What is the average Savage lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Savage life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Savage in 1943 was 36, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Savage

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Savage 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 Savage family tree

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