Show ContentsSava History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Sava family

The surname Sava was first found in "Normandy and England, which implied, perhaps, a roughness of manners." 1 John Sauuage, was a witness in 1222, James Seavage was married in Edinburgh in 1629, and John Savadge appears in the toun of Sanquhar in 1641. 2

Selvach (died 729), was king of Scottish Dalriada and was probably a younger son of Fearchair Fada (the Long.) 3

Early History of the Sava family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sava research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1177 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Sava History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sava Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Savage, Sauvage, Savidge, Savadge and others.

Early Notables of the Sava family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Savage of Ardquin Castle

Ireland Migration of the Sava family to Ireland

Some of the Sava family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sava family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Robert and Thomas Savadge settled in Virginia in 1623; Ann, Frank, Mart, Thomas Savage settled in Virginia in 1635; John Savage with his wife and children settled in Fort Cumberland Nova Scotia in 1774.


Contemporary Notables of the name Sava (post 1700) +

  • Sava Babic (1934-2012), Serbian writer, poet, translator and university professor
  • Sava Stojkov (1925-2014), Serbian naive art painter


The Sava 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: A te pro te
Motto Translation: From thee, for thee.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. 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)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print


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