Contents [hide]

Saint History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Saint History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The Saint surname was a Norman habitation name, derived from when families lived at St. Clai-sur-Elle in La Manche and in St-Clair-L'Evêque in Calvados, Normandy where the site of the seignorial castle is still discernible. 1

Early Origins of the Saint family

The surname Saint was first found in the barony of Roslyn, Midlothian where King Alexander I of Scotland granted a parcel of land to William de Sancto Claro in 1162. They were originally from St Clare, Pont d'Eveque, Normandy, and are descended from Walderness Compte de Saint Clare who arrived in England with William the Conqueror.

"Wace mentions the Sire de St. Clair at Hastings. This was Richard de St. Clair who held lands, Suffolk, 1086, 2" 3 The Domesday Book also notes that Britel de St. Clair, brother of the aforementioned Richard de St. Clair held lands in Somerset. Britel's son William de St. Clair held lands in Dorset in 1130.

Despite these early records in England, the name is more often than not associated with Scotland. For it is there that the name excelled both in numbers and power. "The first Sinclairs in Scotland appear to have been vassals of the great territorial magnates, de Morville. Their first possession in Scotland was the barony of Roslin, near Edinburgh, which they held in the reign of David I (1124-1153). The earliest bearers of the name appear in charters connected with the abbeys of Dryburgh and Newbattle, the Hospital of Soltre (now Soutra in Midlothian), the church of Glasgow, etc." 4

Sir Henry Sinclair fought with King Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn, and helped assure the independence of the Scottish Kingdom. Sir Henry's son married Isabel, the heiress of the earldom of Orkney, and their son became the senior Earl of Norway. The Clan achieved great status having married into both Norwegian and Scottish royalty.

Back in England, the name prospered as well as The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 confirms: John de Sanet Claro in Suffolk; Robert de Sancto Claro in Somerset; and William de Sancto Claro in Kent. 5

Over in Somerset, from the first listing above, Richard Seinteclere and William Seyncler were both listed in Kirby's Quest. 6

Early History of the Saint family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Saint research. Another 189 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1330, 1345, 1400, 1455, 1470, 1566, 1576, 1582, 1607, 1610, 1643, 1676, 1683, 1696, 1750 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Saint History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Saint Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sinclair, Saint Clare, Sancto Claro, Singular, Sinclaire, Seincler, Sanclar, Sincklair, Sinclear, Sincler and many more.

Early Notables of the Saint family

Notable among the family at this time was Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, Baron of Roslin (c. 1345-1400), Scottish and a Norwegian nobleman; Prince of Orkney, 3rd Earl of Orkney; and George Sinclair or Sinclar (d. 1696), a Scottish mathematician, engineer and demonologist, the first Professor of Mathematics, Glasgow, probably a native of East Lothian.Other notables include: George Sinclair fourth Earl of Caithness (d. 1582), second, but eldest surviving, son of John, third Earl of Caithness; and George Sinclair, fifth Earl...
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Saint Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Saint family to Ireland

Some of the Saint family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Saint migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Saint Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Saint, who landed in Maryland in 1673 7
William Saint, who landed in Maryland in 1679 7

Saint Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mr. Saint, who arrived in Louisiana in 1718 7
Andres Saint, aged 20, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 7

Saint Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Cecille Saint, who arrived in New York in 1804 7
Isaac Saint, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1850 7
Isaac T Saint, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1875 7

Saint migration to Australia +

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

Saint Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Edward Saint, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 8
John Saint, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 8
Mary Saint, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 8
Charlotte Saint, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 8
William Moulton Saint, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Saint 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:

Saint Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Thomas Saint, aged 20, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifton" in 1842
Susan Saint, aged 17, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifton" in 1842

Contemporary Notables of the name Saint (post 1700) +

Rachel Saint (1914-1994), evangelical Christian missionary from the United States
Nathanael "Nate" Saint (1923-1956), American evangelical Christian missionary pilot to Ecuador
Eva Marie Saint (b. 1924), award-winning American actress who has starred in films, on Broadway, and on television 9
Percy Saint, American Democratic Party politician, Louisiana State Attorney General, 1931 10
Joseph Exum Saint (b. 1847), American politician, Mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1891-92 10
Charles-Camille Saint (1835-1921), French Late-Romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist
Stafford Eric Saint (1904-1988), well-known surgeon from Buckinghamshire
Gonzague Saint Bris (1948-2017), French novelist, biographer and journalist who won the 2002 Prix Interallié for Les Vieillards de Brighton
Rae Saint Chu, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Hawaii, 1980, 2004 11
Paul Saint Pierre (b. 1923), Canadian journalist, author and politician, Member of the Canadian Parliament

Citations +

Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
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)
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)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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.
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) BABOO 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Baboo.htm
Eva Saint. (Retrieved 2011, January 21) Eva Saint. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Marie_Saint
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html