Saenger History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Germany

Bavaria, Germany is the ancestral home of the Saenger family. The Germans began using hereditary surnames in the 12th century. Saenger is an occupational name, which was derived from the kind of work done by the original bearer. It is a name for a singer. The name probably evolved from the German word "sanger," and it indicates that the family has an historical association with the profession of singing ballads.

Early Origins of the Saenger family

The surname Saenger was first found in the ancient walled city of Noerdlingen, where the name was closely identified in early mediaeval times with the feudal society which would play a prominent role in Bavarian history. The name would later emerge as a noble family with great influence, having many distinguished branches, and become noted for its involvement in social, economic and political affairs.

Early History of the Saenger family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Saenger research. Another 184 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1680, 1749, 1767, 1773 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Saenger History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Saenger Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Saenger include Senger, Saenger, Singer, Sengher, Sanger, Sang and many more.

Early Notables of the Saenger family

Prominent among members of the name Saenger in this period include

Maria Renata Saenger von Mossau (1680-1749), a Bavarian nun executed for heresy, witch craft, apostasy and satanism, one of the last people executed for these charges in Germany and Europe

Saenger migration to the United States +

Thousands of German settlers came to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. The hardships of the long voyage were balanced by the opportunity to escape poverty and religious persecution. The descendents of these settlers still populate the states of Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many also live in Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Saenger or a variant listed above:

Saenger Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Miss Marg. Saenger, aged 26, German who arrived in Galveston, Texas in 1845 aboard the ship "Strabo"
Johann Caspar Saenger, who landed in New York, NY in 1850 1
Johanna Saenger, who arrived in New York, NY in 1850 1
Mr. Saenger, who arrived in New Jersey in 1854 1
August Saenger, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1866 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Saenger Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Leopold Saenger, aged 44, who arrived in America, in 1910
Alfred Saenger, aged 50, who arrived in America from Hamburg, Germany, in 1910
Mrs. Alfred Saenger, aged 43, who arrived in America from Hamburg, Germany, in 1910
Paul Saenger, aged 27, who arrived in America from Leipzig, Germany, in 1910
Oscar Saenger, aged 43, who arrived in America, in 1911
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Saenger (post 1700) +

Dr. Eugene Saenger (1917-2007), American university professor and physician
Julian and Abel Saenger, American pharmacists and founders of the Saenger Theatres throughout the United States in the early twentieth century
Wolfram Saenger (b. 1939), German biochemist and protein crystallographer
Max Sänger (1853-1903), German obstetrician and gynecologist
Willi Sänger (1894-1944), German Communist and resistance fighter who was executed
Carsten Sänger (b. 1962), German former footballer who played from 1980 to 1999 and managed from 1997 to 2010
Eugen Sänger (1905-1964), Austrian aerospace engineer best known for his contributions to lifting body and ramjet technology, eponym of the Saenger lunar crater

Citations +

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)