Sayre History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

England

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Sayre is one of the names that was brought to England in the wave of migration following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Sayre family lived in Essex. Their name, however, is a reference to St. Saire, Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. Alternatively, the name could have been a trade name for someone who was "an assayer of metals." 1 And another variation is that it could have been "an Anglo-Norman personal name, as Saher de Quincy, the famous Earl of Winchester." 1 There are at least three other listed origins of the name, but these latter three seem the most probable.

Early Origins of the Sayre family

The surname Sayre was first found in Essex where the family's first listing of the name was found during the reign of Edward II. 1 Omitting the entries as a personal name, we also found: Stephanus filius Seir (1148-1152) and ? filius Saheri (Saieri) c. 1160 in Lincolnshire.

Robertus filius Seer was listed in the 12th century in Nottinghamshire and Richard Sayer was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Devon in 1230. Thomas Sare and John Sayer were listed in the Feet of Fines of Essex in 1292. 2

The Thayer variant produced the Pilgrim Fathers and brothers Thomas Thayer (1596-1665) and Richard Thayer (1601-1664) who were born in Thornbury, Devon. The family were originally from Glastonbury, Somerset, the oldest found was John Tahyer, born c. 1450.

Early History of the Sayre family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sayre research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1560, 1602, 1603, 1625, 1631, 1655, 1695, 1705, 1718 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Sayre History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sayre Spelling Variations

Before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Sound was what guided spelling in the Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Sayre family name include Sayer, Sayers, Sayres and others.

Early Notables of the Sayre family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Robert Sayer or Seare (1560-1602), a Benedictine monk, born at Redgrave, Suffolk, the son of John Seare; Sir John Sayer of Bourchers Hall in Essex; and his son, George Sayer (c. 1655-1718), an English courtier and politician, Member of Parliament...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sayre Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sayre Ranking

In the United States, the name Sayre is the 4,436^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Sayre family to Ireland

Some of the Sayre family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sayre migration to the United States +

To escape the political and religious chaos of this era, thousands of English families began to migrate to the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. The passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe; however, those who made the voyage safely were encountered opportunities that were not available to them in their homeland. Many of the families that reached the New World at this time went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of the United States and Canada. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Sayre family to immigrate North America:

Sayre Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Sayre, who landed in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1630 4
Mr. William Sayre, (Saire), who left England and arrived in Maryland in 1634 aboard the ship "Ark and Dove" 5
Job Sayre, who landed in Lynn, Massachusetts in 1635 4

Sayre Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

John Sayre, who arrived in America in 1768 4

Sayre Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

F F Sayre, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 4
A. Sayre, aged 55, who landed in America, in 1896

Sayre Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Clayton C. Sayre, aged 21, who landed in America, in 1903
David A. Sayre, aged 63, who immigrated to America, in 1906
Aubrey R. Sayre, aged 22, who settled in America, in 1906
E. H Sayre, who landed in America, in 1907
Edwin H. Sayre, aged 50, who immigrated to the United States, in 1909
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sayre migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sayre Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Rev. James Sayre U.E. (b. 1745) born in New York, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 brother is John Sayre, he returned to Newport, Rhode Island, USA in 1786 he died in 1798 in Farified, Connecticut, USA 6
Mr. John Sayre U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 6
Rev. John Sayre U.E. born in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he died in Maugerville, New Brunswick 6
Mr. John Sayre Jr., U.E. born in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 son of Rev. John Sayre 6

Sayre Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Miss A Sayre, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Contemporary Notables of the name Sayre (post 1700) +

Kenneth M. Sayre (1928-2022), American philosopher who spent most of his career at the University of Notre Dame
Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald (1900-1948), American novelist and the wife of writer F. Scott Fitzgerald
Robert Heysham Sayre (1824-1907), American businessman, vice president and chief engineer of the Lehigh Valley Railroad, eponym of Sayre, Pennsylvania
David Austin Sayre (1793-1870), American silversmith, banker, educator and founder of Sayre Female Institute
James Willis Sayre (1877-1963), American theatre critic, journalist, arts promoter, and historian
Joel Sayre (1900-1979), American screenwriter, known for his work on Gunga Din (1939), Fourteen Hours (1951), Annie Oakley (1935) and others
Lewis Albert Sayre (1820-1900), American orthopedic surgeon, noted for performing the first operation to cure the hip-joint ankylosis
Nora Clemens Sayre (1932-2001), American film critic, essayist and reviewer of films for The New York Times, daughter of Joel Sayre
Francis B. Sayre Sr. (1885-1972), American professor at Harvard Law School, High Commissioner of the Philippines, and a son-in-law of President Woodrow Wilson
Stephen Sayre (1736-1818), American revolutionary who allegedly planned to kidnap George III
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)