| ![Show Contents]() Saint History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of SaintWhat does the name Saint mean? The Saint surname was a Norman habitation name, derived from when families lived at St. Clai-sur-Elle in La Manche and in St-Clair-L'Evêque in Calvados, Normandy where the site of the seignorial castle is still discernible. 1 Saint Coat of Arms CreationThe Gordons now claim to be " Cocks of the North," a title which the Sinclairs of Caithness, who have a Gallic cock (rooster) as their crest, say ought to be theirs. Why it should be called " Gallic " they can scarcely explain, unless it be that this clan is of French origin. The senior branch of the Sinclair Clan and several of the collateral branches carry, on the authority of the Lyon Office, a " Cock proper " as crest. The crest was not always carried as at present like a proper barn-door fowl. In 1566 George Sinclair, fourth Earl of Caithness, used arms quartered with those of his wife, Lady Elizabeth Graham, daughter of the Earl of Montrose, and in these the cock is shown full face with wings extended. The family tradition is that the Earls of Caithness, until the battle of Flodden, were " Cocks of the North." After that battle the clan became a very small one, as all the fighting men were killed, and the Duke of Gordon then assumed the designation. The cock is an emblem of watchfulness and mirth after victory. It was placed on the summit of churches as an emblem of vigilance, or as a warning against St Peter's sin. 2 Early Origins of the Saint familyThe surname Saint was first found in the barony of Roslyn, Midlothian where King Alexander I of Scotland granted a parcel of land to William de Sancto Claro in 1162. They were originally from St Clare, Pont d'Eveque, Normandy, and are descended from Walderness Compte de Saint Clare who arrived in England with William the Conqueror. "Wace mentions the Sire de St. Clair at Hastings. This was Richard de St. Clair who held lands, Suffolk, 1086, 3" 4 The Domesday Book also notes that Britel de St. Clair, brother of the aforementioned Richard de St. Clair held lands in Somerset. Britel's son William de St. Clair held lands in Dorset in 1130. Despite these early records in England, the name is more often than not associated with Scotland. For it is there that the name excelled both in numbers and power. "The first Sinclairs in Scotland appear to have been vassals of the great territorial magnates, de Morville. Their first possession in Scotland was the barony of Roslin, near Edinburgh, which they held in the reign of David I (1124-1153). The earliest bearers of the name appear in charters connected with the abbeys of Dryburgh and Newbattle, the Hospital of Soltre (now Soutra in Midlothian), the church of Glasgow, etc." 5 Sir Henry Sinclair fought with King Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn, and helped assure the independence of the Scottish Kingdom. Sir Henry's son married Isabel, the heiress of the earldom of Orkney, and their son became the senior Earl of Norway. The Clan achieved great status having married into both Norwegian and Scottish royalty. Back in England, the name prospered as well as The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 confirms: John de Sanet Claro in Suffolk; Robert de Sancto Claro in Somerset; and William de Sancto Claro in Kent. 6 Over in Somerset, from the first listing above, Richard Seinteclere and William Seyncler were both listed in Kirby's Quest. 7 Early History of the Saint familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Saint research. Another 189 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1330, 1345, 1400, 1455, 1470, 1566, 1576, 1582, 1607, 1610, 1643, 1676, 1683, 1696, 1750 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Saint History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Saint Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Sinclair, Saint Clare, Sancto Claro, Singular, Sinclaire, Seincler, Sanclar, Sincklair, Sinclear, Sincler and many more. Early Notables of the Saint familyNotable among the family at this time was Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, Baron of Roslin (c. 1345-1400), Scottish and a Norwegian nobleman; Prince of Orkney, 3rd Earl of Orkney; and George Sinclair or Sinclar (d. 1696), a Scottish mathematician, engineer and demonologist, the first Professor of Mathematics, Glasgow, probably a native of East Lothian.Other notables include: George Sinclair fourth Earl of Caithness (d. 1582), second, but eldest surviving, son of John, third Earl of Caithness; and George Sinclair, fifth Earl...
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Saint Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Saint family to IrelandSome of the Saint family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Saint migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Saint Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Richard Saint, who landed in Maryland in 1673 8
- William Saint, who landed in Maryland in 1679 8
Saint Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Mr. Saint, who arrived in Louisiana in 1718 8
- Andres Saint, aged 20, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 8
Saint Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Cecille Saint, who arrived in New York in 1804 8
- Isaac Saint, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1850 8
- Isaac T Saint, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1875 8
| Saint migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Saint Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Edward Saint, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 9
- John Saint, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 9
- Mary Saint, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 9
- Charlotte Saint, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 9
- William Moulton Saint, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Baboo" in 1840 9
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Saint 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: Saint Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Thomas Saint, aged 20, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifton" in 1842
- Susan Saint, aged 17, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifton" in 1842
| Contemporary Notables of the name Saint (post 1700) | + |
- Rachel Saint (1914-1994), evangelical Christian missionary from the United States
- Nathanael "Nate" Saint (1923-1956), American evangelical Christian missionary pilot to Ecuador
- Eva Marie Saint (b. 1924), award-winning American actress who has starred in films, on Broadway, and on television 10
- Percy Saint, American Democratic Party politician, Louisiana State Attorney General, 1931 11
- Joseph Exum Saint (b. 1847), American politician, Mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1891-92 11
- Charles-Camille Saint (1835-1921), French Late-Romantic composer, organist, conductor, and pianist
- Stafford Eric Saint (1904-1988), well-known surgeon from Buckinghamshire
- Gonzague Saint Bris (1948-2017), French novelist, biographer and journalist who won the 2002 Prix Interallié for Les Vieillards de Brighton
- Rae Saint Chu, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Hawaii, 1980, 2004 12
- Paul Saint Pierre (b. 1923), Canadian journalist, author and politician, Member of the Canadian Parliament
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Commit thy work to God
- Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
- Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
- 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)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BABOO 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Baboo.htm
- Eva Saint. (Retrieved 2011, January 21) Eva Saint. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eva_Marie_Saint
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 26) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 25) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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