Show ContentsSagar History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The earliest origins of the name Sagar date back to the time of the Anglo-Saxons. The name is derived from the baptismal name for the son of Sigar which was an Old English personal name. One source claims the name was Norman in origin from Segre in Anjou. [1]

Early Origins of the Sagar family

The surname Sagar was first found in Devon, where the name was first listed as Sagar and Segarus in the Domesday Book of 1086. [2] Later, Galfridus filius Seger was listed in 1222, again in Devon. Over in Dorset, Walter Sagar was listed there in the Pipe Rolls of 1195. John Seger was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 in Norfolk. [3] The same source lists: Henry filius Sigar in Cambridgeshire; and William Siger in Norfolk. [4]

Kirby's Quest lists John Seger in Somerset, 1 Edward III (in the first year of Edward III's reign.) [5]

Early History of the Sagar family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sagar research. Another 103 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1549, 1557, 1563, 1564, 1633, 1667, 1681, 1693 and 1768 are included under the topic Early Sagar History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sagar Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Sagar include Segar, Seeger, Seegar, Sigar, Sugar, Seager, Sager, Saker, Sakar and many more.

Early Notables of the Sagar family

Notables of the family at this time include Francis Segar or Seagar (fl. 1549-1563), an English translator and poet, "whose name, variously spelt, is that of an old Devonshire family, was probably the 'Francis Nycholson, alias Seagar,' who was made free of the Stationers' Company on 24 Sept. 1557. [6]Sir William Segar (c.1564-1633), was an English portrait painter and Garter King-of-Arms to the court...
Another 64 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sagar Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Sagar migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Sagar or a variant listed above:

Sagar Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Ellinor Sagar, who landed in Virginia in 1663 [7]
  • Thomas Sagar, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1682 [7]
Sagar Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Sagar, who arrived in New York in 1798 [7]

Australia Sagar migration to Australia +

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

Sagar Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Sagar, (b. 1819), aged 23, English cotton spinner who was convicted in Salford, Manchester, Greater Manchester, England for 10 years for highway robbery, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 4th October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1892 [8]

Contemporary Notables of the name Sagar (post 1700) +

  • Ms. Rebecca Ann Sagar O.B.E., British recipient of Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to British foreign policy [9]


  1. 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)
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  6. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  7. 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)
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-gray
  9. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62310, 31 October 2019 | London Gazette, The Gazette, June 2018, https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/62310/supplement/B1


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