SALT
Salt is an English surname that has been documented since the late eleventh century. It is associated with a range of meanings, all of which are connected to the production, trade or habitation of salt, the precious preservative of the medieval period.
Topographically, the name may have been given to people who lived near a salt marsh, a salt spring or – in the case of the North Sea coast – a saltpan. The Old English word sealt was used to describe such places, and a surname derived from this word would have identified the individual by the location of his household.
Occupationally, Salt could signify a salt‑seller, a worker at a saltworks or a proprietor of a salt house. Salt was an expensive commodity; those who were involved in its manufacture or sale often gained enough reputation or wealth to be distinguished by the name. The medieval reference to a “salt house” or “salt works” was therefore a valid source for the surname.
Locationally, the name is firmly linked to the town of Salt in Staffordshire. The Domesday Book of 1086 records the settlement as “Selte,” while the 1167 Pipe Rolls of the county list it as “Salt.” The earliest dated use of the name in a legal context is that of Nicholas de Salt, witnessed in the Assize Court Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199, during the reign of King Richard I. Earlier than this, a William de Saut appears in the 1203 Staffordshire Pleas Rolls and an Alyce Salte is recorded in the burial register of St. James’ Church, Clerkenwell, London, dated 1599.
Among later bearers of the surname was William Salt (1805–1863), a noted Staffordshire antiquary. His archaeological collections from the county were highly regarded and he was elected to the Royal Society of Literature. His works remain an important resource for the study of Staffordshire’s material culture.
Today, the surname Salt continues to be found throughout the United Kingdom. It has also spread to other English‑speaking countries. In the United States it is the six‑hundredth‑seventh most common surname, with about one‑hundred twenty‑three thousand bearers, and it is most frequently encountered in Texas, Virginia and South Carolina. In Canada the name ranks at three‑hundredth‑sixth, with eighteen thousand two hundred three bearers, and is most prevalent in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta. In Australia it is ranked two‑hundred‑fifty‑ninth, with sixteen thousand nine hundred eighty‑two bearers, concentrated in New South Wales and Victoria. New Zealand lists the name at three‑hundredth‑fifth, with four thousand seven hundred eighty‑four bearers, mainly in the North Island. While the surname has clearly travelled with British emigration, its origin remains firmly seated in England.
Typical given names associated with the Salt surname
Male
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Philip
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Elizabeth
- Jane
- Jean
- Julie
- Karen
- Margaret
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Salt in...
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Salt are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Jammy Dodger.
There are approximately 7,368 people named Salt in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,269th most common surname in Britain. Around 113 in a million people in Britain are named Salt.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Salt
- Phil Salt - Welsh cricketer
- Henry Stephens Salt - Activist (1851 to 1939)
- Charlotte Salt - Actress
- Sam Salt - Royal Navy admiral (1940 to 2009)
- John Salt - Artist
- Henry Salt - Artist, traveller, diplomat, and egyptologist (1780 to 1827)
- Edward Salt - Politician (1881 to 1970)
- Harold Salt - Football player (1899 to 1)
- Harold Salt - Officer (1879 to 1971)
- Jonathan Salt - Cricketer
- Harry Salt - Football player (1899 to 1)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.