The Saunders surname
In the 2010 U.S. Census, 69,943 people carried this name — #476 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 4,220 people counted. That is up 4% from 67,210 in 2000.
In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890
Ireland registered 29 births for the Saunders name in 1890.
They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Leinster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 1,300 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time. 7 of them were indexed under other spellings of the name. The Registrar-General’s note on the name: “Dublin and Antrim.”
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they were born, 1890
Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.
In Argentina’s national register
At least 232 people named Saunders live in Argentina.
RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in Buenos Aires Province.
Where it concentrates, on the mapWhere they live today
RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.
In Switzerland’s population statistics
73 people named Saunders live in Switzerland.
They live in 9 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Geneva.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.
In France’s civil register
France’s register of deaths holds 53 people named Saunders.
Most of them — 52 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 1 département, most often Val-d’Oise.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they were born
Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.
In Poland’s population register
26 people named Saunders have a registered home in Poland.
Of the 109 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 8 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Warmian-Masurian.
Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.
Where they live today
PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.
In the Nordic population registers
81 people named Saunders are counted in Sweden and Finland.
Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published. Finland counts its citizens, at home or abroad.
Counted, by country
Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown) · Digital and Population Data Services Agency (DVV), Finland, surname statistics, August 2026 — CC BY 4.0.
In print
Saunders in American newspapers,
1886–1947.
Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 553,634 pages in all carry the name.
Who carried it
People named Saunders,
with a public archive behind them.
-
Charles Saunders 1715–1775 · politician -
John Cunningham Saunders 1773–1810 · surgeon -
Joseph Saunders 1773–1845 · engraver -
Prince Saunders 1775–1839 · teacher -
Romulus Mitchell Saunders 1791–1867 · judge
Wikidata and Wikimedia Commons (CC0) · 209 lives in all are documented under this name.
Nearby in the index
Surnames next to Saunders.
- Sauer 15,430 · U.S. census
- Saul 7,047 · U.S. census
- Saulle 164 · U.S. census
- Saulnier 1,471 · U.S. census
- Sault 293 · U.S. census
- Saumier 172 · U.S. census
- Saunier 775 · U.S. census
- Saur 806 · U.S. census
- Saura 183 · U.S. census
- Saure 126 · U.S. census
- Sauri 301 · U.S. census
- Sauser 676 · U.S. census
When the index is not enough
This page says where Saunders is.
A volume says what happened to it.
Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.