Show ContentsSackvul History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Sackvul is a name that first reached England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Sackvul family lived in Sussex. Their name, however, is a reference to Sauqueville, near the River Scie, in Normandy, the family's place of residence prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066. 1

Early Origins of the Sackvul family

The surname Sackvul was first found in the Domesday Book of 1086 where Richard de Sachanuilla, de Sacheuilla was listed in Hertfordshire and Essex. 2

However, Lower claims the family originated in "a place in Normandy, now called Sauqueville, near the river Scie, in the department of the Lower Seine, about seven miles from Dieppe. Collins says, that the family were lords of the town and seigniory 'long before the Conquest.' The name was variously written De Salchevilla, Salkavilla, Saccavilla, &c. According to genealogists, the first of the family in England was Herbrand de Salchevilla, who came in with the Conqueror, while his kinsman, Jourdain de Salchevilla, was Sewer of England under the same monarch. " 1

And yet another source in an attempt to clear up this confusion, Reaney has the following entry: "Round's derivation of the Sackvilles, later dukes of Dorset, from Sauqueville (Seine-Inférieure) is accepted by Loyd. Their identification of the Essex Domesday Book under-tenant, of a different family, as coming from Secqueville-en-Bessin (Calvados) depends solely on the fact that the place is 11 kilometres from Ryes, the place of origin of Eudo Dapifer under whom he held. The early forms of Secqueville are Sicca Villa (1077), Secheville (1155), Secqueville (1217), which do not fit in with those of Sackville and probably survive as SETCHFIELD. Richard probably came, as suggested by Dupont, from Sacquenville (Eure), recorded as Sachenville (1195), Sakenvilla (c1210), Sackevilla (1220)." 3

Later in Essex, Simon Sakeuilla was found in Colchester, Essex in 1154. 3 The Hndreodrum Rolls of 1273 include: John de Sakewyle, Surrey; and Jordan de Sakeville, Suffolk. 4

The Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I. lists Gwydo de Sakevill, Sussex, Henry III-Edward I; and Robert de Saccavill, Devon. 5

Early History of the Sackvul family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sackvul research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1507, 1529, 1536, 1546, 1561, 1566, 1591, 1608, 1609, 1622, 1652 and 1677 are included under the topic Early Sackvul History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sackvul Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, Anglo-Norman surnames like Sackvul are characterized by many spelling variations. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages such as Norman French and Latin, even literate people regularly changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Sackvul include Sackville, Sackvile and others.

Early Notables of the Sackvul family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Richard Sackville (ca. 1507-1566) of Ashburnham and Buckhurst in Sussex and Westenhanger in Kent, an English administrator and Member of Parliament; Thomas Sackville, 1st Earl of Dorset (1536-1608), an English statesman, poet...
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sackvul Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sackvul family

Faced with the chaos present in England at that time, many English families looked towards the open frontiers of the New World with its opportunities to escape oppression and starvation. People migrated to North America, as well as Australia and Ireland in droves, paying exorbitant rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, but those who did see the shores of North America were welcomed with great opportunity. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Sackvul, or a variant listed above: Thomas Sackville arrived in Philadelphia in 1805.



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)


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