Show ContentsSaul History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Saul family

The surname Saul was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Penrice.

"The manor of Penrice has for many generations belonged to the ancient family of Sawle. The founder of this family came from Normandy with William the Conqueror. He was probably placed in these parts after the Conquest, under the Earl of Moreton, to command those troops which were kept on foot to awe the people into submission to the Norman authority. For it appears, that prior to any records which are now extant, some branches of this family had taken up their residence at Towan, in this parish, and also in some parts of Devonshire; in both of which counties this name has long been known, and as long associated with wealth and power. At what particular time the Sawle family first became inhabitants of Penrice, their present seat, it is difficult to ascertain. It is certain that this has been the place of their abode for many generations." 1

Mention is made of the family at St. Austell Church in the parish of St. Austell.

"There are some marbles erected to the ancient family of Sawle, particularly one to the memory of John Sawle, Esq. who died in 1715, and Trevanion Sawle, his son, who died in 1714; this is the most elegant one in the church. There is also another that is less superb, erected to the memory of John Sawle, Esq. the last male heir of that ancient family, who died in 1789. This was erected by his maiden sister, Mrs. Mary Sawle, the last survivor who retained the name." 1

Early History of the Saul family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Saul research. Another 163 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1079, 1142, 1149, 1162, 1510, 1544, 1585 and 1600 are included under the topic Early Saul History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Saul Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Sawle, Sawley, Saule, Sauley, Sawlly, Sawlley, Sawlle, Saully and many more.

Early Notables of the Saul family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • Arthur Saul (d. 1585), English divine Canon of Gloucester, of Gloucestershire origin, was admitted a demy of Magdalen College, Oxford, in 1544...

Saul Ranking

In the United States, the name Saul is the 4,863rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2


United States Saul migration to the United States +

An examination into the immigration and passenger lists has discovered a number of people bearing the name Saul:

Saul Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hans Leonard Saul, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1754 3
  • Johan Saul, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1754 3
  • Johan Nicklas Saul, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1754 3
  • Leonard Saul, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1765 3
  • George Saul, who landed in New York, NY in 1782 3
Saul Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Andreas Saul, who landed in America in 1832 3
  • Barthel Joseph Saul, who arrived in America in 1839 3
  • Harris Saul, who landed in Texas in 1850-1906 3
  • Joseph Saul, who landed in Mobile County, Ala in 1853 3
  • Valentin Saul, who arrived in America in 1853 3
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Saul migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Saul Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Saul, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Saul Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Saul, who landed in Quebec in 1838
  • Andrew Saul, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1843
  • Mr. William Saul, aged 38 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Jessie" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 4

Australia Saul migration to Australia +

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

Saul Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Saul, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Agamemnon" on April 22, 1820, settling in New South Wales, Australia 5
  • John Saul, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Samuel Boddington" in 1851 6
  • Martha Saul, aged 19, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Epaminondas" 7

New Zealand Saul migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Saul Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Saul, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Albert William" in 1864
  • Joseph Saul, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Surat" in 1864

Contemporary Notables of the name Saul (post 1700) +

  • Richard Robert Saul (1948-2012), American football offensive lineman who played in the National Football League, twin brother of Ronald Saul
  • William Neal Saul (1940-2006), American football linebacker in the National Football League (1962-1963)
  • Ronald Reed Saul (1948-2021), American professional football player in the National Football League (1970-1981)
  • John Saul (b. 1942), American author
  • Andrew Saul (b. 1946), American millionaire, Chairman of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
  • David John Saul (1939-2017), Bermudian politician, Premier of Bermuda from 1995 to 1997
  • Samuel Berrick Saul CBE (1924-2016), British academic, Vice-Chancellor of the University of York from 1979 to 1993
  • Air Vice Marshal Richard Ernest Saul CB, DFC, RAF (1891-1965), senior Royal Air Force commander during World War II
  • John Ralston Saul (b. 1947), Canadian author, essayist and philosopher
  • Howard Saul Becker (1928-2023), American sociologist who taught at Northwestern University from Chicago, Illinois

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Charles Saul (b. 1910), English Leading Stoker serving for the Royal Navy from Fullers Vale, Headley, Southampton, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 8


Suggested Readings for the name Saul +

  • A Tale of Two Families: Inez Gibbs, Twig Sauls (also Saul), Whose Ancestors were in Florida even when it was A Spanish Territory by Byron T. Sauls.

  1. Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. 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)
  4. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 54)
  5. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Agamemnon voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1820 with 179 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/agamemnon/1820
  6. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SAMUEL BODDINGTON 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851SamuelBoddington.gif
  7. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) EPAMINONDAS 1852. Retrieved www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/epaminondas1852.shtml
  8. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm


Houseofnames.com on Facebook