Meaning and origin
The last name Savage has its origins in medieval England. It is derived from the Old French word "savache," meaning "wild" or "untamed." The name was used to describe individuals who displayed fierce and untamed characteristics, often referring to warriors or hunters. Over time, the name Savage spread throughout Britain and beyond, serving as a hereditary surname to preserve family identity.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#690
Savage was the 690th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 49,914 people, about 17 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Savage
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Savage is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.