Sawyer

Meaning

A person who saws wood, typically one who operates a saw in a mill or workshop.

Etymology

From Old English 'sagu' (saw) and the agent suffix '-er,' indicating one who uses a saw. The surname became hereditary for families engaged in the timber and woodworking trades.

About the Sawyer Surname

Sawyer was a common occupational surname for woodworkers and mill operators who cut timber using hand saws or mechanical saws. The profession was essential in construction and woodworking industries throughout medieval and modern periods.

Distribution

Found throughout England and common in English-speaking countries, particularly in North America where timber industries were significant.

People with the Sawyer Surname