Searjeant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Searjeant is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a person who held the official name of Sergeant or Serjant. This occupational surname referred to the individual who was an officer of the law, someone who could summon people to court. The name could also refer to the officer who was a tenant by military service under the rank of a knight.

Early Origins of the Searjeant family

The surname Searjeant was first found in Buckingham where John le Serjaunt was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same rolls list Walter le Serjaunt, John le Serjant, Robert Sergant and Roger le Serjaunt. 1

Some of the family were found in early years in the parish of Endellion, Cornwall. "The manor of Trefrike or Trefreke, belonged at a very early period to the family of Serjeaux; since, so early as 1396 it passed with a co-heiress to the Marneys, and was afterwards in the family of Passelew, the descendants from another co-heiress of Serjeaux." 2

"The manor of Helland, which belonged at a very early period to the family of Sergeaux, passed from them by a co-heiress to Sir John Passele, who possessed it in the year 1427." 2

"The manor of Lanreath, Lanreth, or Lanretho, [in Cornwall] from which the name probably was made to extend to the whole district, belonged in the middle of the thirteenth century to the family of Serjeaux, by one of whose co-heiresses it was carried in marriage to the Pashleys." 2

Early History of the Searjeant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Searjeant research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1622, 1674, 1692, 1703, 1707, 1714 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Searjeant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Searjeant Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Searjeant include Sargent, Sargant, Sargaunt, Sarguent, Sarjeant, Sargeant, Sergeant and many more.

Early Notables of the Searjeant family

Another 45 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Searjeant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Searjeant family to Ireland

Some of the Searjeant family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Searjeant migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Searjeant were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Searjeant Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Florence M. Searjeant, aged 46, originally from London, England, arrived in New York in 1923 aboard the ship "President Monroe" from London, England 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Searjeant (post 1700) +

Graham Searjeant, British Financial Editor of The Times

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result