Show ContentsSaturley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient roots of the Saturley family name are in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The name Saturley comes from when the family lived in the ancient chapelry of Satterthwaite found near Hawkeshead in Lancashire. This surname was originally derived from the Old English elements soetr meaning shield and pveit meaning pasture. 1

Early Origins of the Saturley family

The surname Saturley was first found in Cumbria at Satterthwaite, a chapelry, in the parish of Hawkshead, union of Ulverston, hundred of Lonsdale in Lancashire. 2 The village dates back to at least 1336 when it was listed as Sterthwayt. 1

"Small and secluded as is the spot, it has originated a surname that has spread far and wide. It seems to have reached London about the 16th century." 3

The Lancashire Wills at Richmond included the the following entries: Robert Saterthwaite, of Coutehouse in Hawkshead, 1596; William Satewhait, of Saterthwaite, 1604; and George Satenwhat, of Hauxhead, 1613. 3

Early History of the Saturley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Saturley research. Another 99 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1642, 1649, 1668, 1685, 1720, 1728, 1790, 1847, 1897 and 1978 are included under the topic Early Saturley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Saturley Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Saturley has appeared include Satterthwaite, Satherthwaite, Satterthwater and many more.

Early Notables of the Saturley family

Notables of the family at this time include Thomas Satterthwaite (1720-1790) a prominent Quaker in Lancaster, Lancashire who was involved in the slave trade. He was the son of Thomas Satterthwaite (1685-1728) and Mary Ledger. His brother, Benjamin Satterthwaite became a factor or agent for a group of Lancaster slave traders, first in Barbados and then in...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Saturley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Saturley family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Saturley arrived in North America very early: James Satterthwaite settled in New Jersey in 1678.



  1. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  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)


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