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The Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain were the first to use the name of Saxyers. The name had a practical origin since it came from when its initial bearer worked as a person who worked as the sawyer. 1 2 This individual bought wood and cut it with his saw in order to sell it the towns people. Occupational names frequently were derived from the principal object associated with the activity of the original bearer, such as tools or products. These types of occupational surnames are called metonymic surnames.
One source claims the name could have been Norman in origin as in "Radulphus de Sahurs, and the Ville of Sahurs, Normandy 1198." 3 While this entry is quite a bit later than the Norman Conquest, the presumption is that not all of the family accompanied the Conqueror in 1066.
The surname Saxyers was first found in various counties and shires throughout ancient Britain. The earliest record of the family was found in Berkshire where Nicholas le Sagyere was listed c. 1248. A few years later, Humfrey le Sayhare, le Sawyere, and Robert le Sawyere, le Saweare were both listed in the Assize Rolls of Somerset in 1270. 4
The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also listed some of the first entries for the family: Ralph le Sawiere in Huntingdonshire; and Geoffrey le Sawere in London. 2 Further to the north, Philip le Sagher was listed in the Yorkshire in 1324. 4
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Saxyers research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1633, 1681, 1687, 1692, 1783, 1812, 1833, 1876, 1884, 1894 and 1896 are included under the topic Early Saxyers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Saxyers include Sawyer, Sawier, Sawer and others.
Notables of the family at this time include Sir Robert Sawyer, of Highclere (1633-1692), Attorney General for England and Wales (1681-1687) and Speaker of the English House of Commons; and Admiral Sir...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Saxyers Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Saxyers or a variant listed above: Francis Sawyer settled in Virginia in 1635; following John in 1622; Lydia in 1655; Mary in 1649; Nicholas in 1652; Thomas in 1650; William in 1623; and they also settled in Massachusetts, Barbados, Portland, San Francisco and Philadelphia. Thomas Sawier settled in Virginia in 1620.