Show ContentsSangster History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Sangster finds its origins with the ancient Anglo-Saxons of England. It was given to one who worked as a person who was a singaere or musician. During the Middle Ages people were identified by the type of work one did and were referred to in this manner. The traveling musician was therefore named the singaere, and was a well known and respected figure in medieval times. He was the main entertainer at fairs and festivals and was also a source of news and idle gossip from the neighboring towns.

Early Origins of the Sangster family

The surname Sangster was first found in Devon where one of the first records of the name was Lucas le Syngere who was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of 1296. The same rolls listed William le Syngur one year later in Yorkshire.

Early History of the Sangster family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sangster research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1594, 1602, 1678 and 1811 are included under the topic Early Sangster History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sangster Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Sangster has been recorded under many different variations, including Singer, Singers, Singar and others.

Early Notables of the Sangster family

Notables of this surname at this time include: John Singer (fl. 1594-1602), an English actor and dramatist who was with Queen Elizabeth's company and the Admiral's (Lord Charles Howard...
Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sangster Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sangster Ranking

In the United States, the name Sangster is the 14,193rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1


Sangster migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Sangster or a variant listed above:

Sangster Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • James Sangster, who landed in Maryland in 1680 2
Sangster Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Sangster, who landed in Virginia in 1770 2
  • John Sangster, aged 21, who arrived in Virginia in 1773 2
Sangster Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Sangster, aged 25, who arrived in Connecticut in 1812 2

Sangster migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Sangster Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Robert Sangster, (Johnston, Andrew), Scottish convict who was convicted in Aberdeen, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bengal Merchant" on 24th March 1838, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3
  • James Sangster, aged 32, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Oregon" 4

Sangster 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:

Sangster Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mary Sangster, aged 65, a domestic servant, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oamaru" in 1878
  • Elizabeth Sangster, aged 31, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oamaru" in 1878
  • Miss Elizabeth Sangster, (b. 1846), aged 31, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Oamaru" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th January 1878, for Bluff 5
  • Miss Mary Sangster, (b. 1812), aged 65, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Oamaru" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th January 1878, for Bluff 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Sangster (post 1700) +

  • William A. Sangster, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 1864
  • John Sangster, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Michigan, 2004
  • Mrs. A. E. Sangster, American Republican politician, Member of Michigan Republican State Central Committee, 1919
  • A. A. Sangster, American politician, Mayor of Cheboygan, Michigan, 1950
  • Margaret Elizabeth Sangster (1838-1912), American poet, author, and editor
  • Samuel Sangster (1804-1872), English line-engraver
  • Thomas Brodie- Sangster (b. 1990), English four-time Young Artist Award nominated film and television actor best known for his roles in Love Actually, Nanny McPhee and The Last Legion
  • James "Jimmy" Sangster (1927-2011), Welsh Saturn Award winning screenwriter and director from Kinmel Bay, Wales
  • Mrs. Gladys Sangster M.B.E. (b. 1928), British Chair for Cancer Research Aberdeen and North East Scotland, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to Healthcare, to Music and to Charity in Aberdeen 6
  • Donald F. Sangster, Canadian economic geologist, President of the Society of Economic Geologists in 1994, recipient of the 1984 The Society of Economic Geologists Silver Medal
  • ... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Charles Edward Sangster (d. 1912), aged 32, English Engineering Storkeeper from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic, died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett 7


The Sangster Motto +

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: Fidelitas vincit
Motto Translation: Fidelity prevails.


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bengal-merchant
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The barque OREGON, 521 tons - 1851 voyage to South Australia. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Oregon.htm
  5. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  6. "Birthday and New Year Honours Lists (1940 to 2019)." Issue 62507, 28 December 2018 | London Gazette, The Gazette, Dec. 2018, www.thegazette.co.uk/honours-lists
  7. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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