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Sergent History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Sergent History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The name Sergent is rooted in the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. It was originally a name for someone who worked as 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 Sergent family

The surname Sergent 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 Sergent family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sergent 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 Sergent History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sergent Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Sergent are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Sergent include Sargent, Sargant, Sargaunt, Sarguent, Sarjeant, Sargeant, Sergeant and many more.

Early Notables of the Sergent family

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

Sergent Ranking

In the United States, the name Sergent is the 8,884^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3 However, in France, the name Sergent is ranked the 577^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,160 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Sergent family to Ireland

Some of the Sergent 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.

Sergent migration to the United States +

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Sergent or a variant listed above:

Sergent Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Arthur Sergent, who landed in Virginia in 1643 5

Sergent Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Christopher Sergent, who arrived in Mississippi in 1854 5

Sergent Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Frank Sergent, who landed in St Clair County, Illinois in 1900 5

Sergent 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:

Sergent Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Sergent, aged 20, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "City of Auckland" in 1872
Albert Sergent, aged 14, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wairoa" in 1877
Charles Sergent, aged 16, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wairoa" in 1877
Ernest Sergent, aged 10, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wairoa" in 1877
Flora Sergent, aged 3, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wairoa" in 1877
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Sergent (post 1700) +

W. D. Sergent, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Taylor County, 1950 6
Robert L. Sergent, American Democratic Party politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates 10th District; Elected 1982 6
David A. Sergent, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Big Stone Gap, Virginia, 1930-34 6
Brian Sergent, New Zealand former footballer who represented the new Zealand National Team in 1948
Brian Sergent (b. 1959), New Zealand actor born and based in Wellington
Bernard Sergent (b. 1946), French ancient historian and comparative mythologist
Annette Sergent (b. 1962), French two-time gold and three-time bronze long-distance runner
Jesse Sergent (b. 1988), New Zealand racing cyclist
Stéphane Sergent (b. 1973), French footballer

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
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html