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Sauer History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Sauer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany
Scotland

The Anglo-Saxons of Britain first developed the name Sauer. It was a name given to someone who was a person who worked as the sawyer. 1 2 This individual bought wood and cut it with his saw in order to sell it the towns people. Occupational names frequently were derived from the principal object associated with the activity of the original bearer, such as tools or products. These types of occupational surnames are called metonymic surnames.

One source claims the name could have been Norman in origin as in "Radulphus de Sahurs, and the Ville of Sahurs, Normandy 1198." 3 While this entry is quite a bit later than the Norman Conquest, the presumption is that not all of the family accompanied the Conqueror in 1066.

Early Origins of the Sauer family

The surname Sauer was first found in various counties and shires throughout ancient Britain. The earliest record of the family was found in Berkshire where Nicholas le Sagyere was listed c. 1248. A few years later, Humfrey le Sayhare, le Sawyere, and Robert le Sawyere, le Saweare were both listed in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1270. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also listed some of the first entries for the family: Ralph le Sawiere in Huntingdonshire; and Geoffrey le Sawere in London. 2 Further to the north, Philip le Sagher was listed in the Yorkshire in 1324. 4

By the 15th century, the name was frequented much further north in Scotland where Alexander Sawer was burgess of Glasgow in 1447 and Andrew Sauer was juror on inquest at Prestwick in 1470. "Thomas Sawar was friar preacher in St. Andrews, 1545." 5

Early History of the Sauer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sauer research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1633, 1681, 1687, 1692, 1783, 1812, 1833, 1876, 1884, 1894 and 1896 are included under the topic Early Sauer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sauer Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Sauer have been found, including Sawyer, Sawier, Sawer and others.

Early Notables of the Sauer family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir Robert Sawyer, of Highclere (1633-1692), Attorney General for England and Wales (1681-1687) and Speaker of the English House of Commons; and Admiral Sir...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sauer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sauer Ranking

In the United States, the name Sauer is the 2,673^rd most popular surname with an estimated 12,435 people with that name. 6 However, in France, the name Sauer is ranked the 9,068^th most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. 7

Sauer migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Sauer, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were:

Sauer Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Adam Sauer, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1731 8
Henrich Sauer, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1733 8
Johan Jacob Sauer, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1737
John William Sauer, aged 17, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1741 8
Johan Nickel Sauer, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1743 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sauer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Philip Sauer, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1802 8
Maria Sauer, who settled in Baltimore, Maryland in 1823
C Sauer, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 8
Johannes Sauer, who arrived in America in 1832 8
W Sauer, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sauer Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Otto H Sauer, aged 26, who landed in New York, NY in 1928 8

Sauer migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sauer Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Andrew Sauer, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Friederich Sauer, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Mathias Sauer, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Urbanus Sauer, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
Welhelmina Sauer, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1757
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sauer migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Sauer Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Wilhelm Sauer, aged 35, who arrived in South Australia in 1847 aboard the ship "Hermann von Beckerath" 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Sauer (post 1700) +

Curt Raymond Sauer (b. 1944), American Pitcher for the Major League Baseball
Michael Curtis Sauer (b. 1987), American Professional NHL ice hockey defenseman
Kent Sauer (b. 1979), American professional NHL ice hockey defenseman
Jeffrey Sauer (1943-2017), American ice hockey player and coach
Henry John "Hank" Sauer (1917-2001), American Major League Baseball left fielder, nicknamed "The Mayor of Wrigley Field," Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1952
Craig Curtis Sauer (b. 1973), American former NFL football player
John Edward "Johnny" Sauer (1925-1996), American football player, coach, and broadcaster
Louis Edward "Lou" Sauer (b. 1928), American architect and design theorist
Billy Sauer (b. 1988), American professional NHL ice hockey goaltender
Conrad Frederick Sauer (1866-1927), German American pharmacist, founder of C.F. Sauer Company
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Sauer family +

Bismarck

Karl Sauer (1917-1941), German Maschinenmaat who served aboard the German Battleship Bismarck during World War II when it was sunk heading to France; he died in the sinking 10

The Sauer Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Cherches et tu trouveras
Motto Translation: Search and you will find.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HERMANN VON BECKERATH 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847HermanVonBeckerath.htm
Bismarck & Tirpitz Class - Crew List Bismarck. (Retrieved 2018, February 06). Retrieved from https://www.bismarck-class.dk/bismarck/crew/bismarck_crew.html#crew_details