| ![Show Contents]() Sanner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The surname Sanner is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was set off by the Norman Conquest of 1066. Sanner comes from the Norman personal name Samson. As with the French version of the name, the root name Sanson or Samson is an Old French name given to "a Welsh bishop (fl. 550) who crossed over to Brittany and founded the abbey of Dol where he was buried and venerated as a saint. Whether his name is the Biblical Samson or one of Celtic origin is uncertain. Probably from Saint-Samson (Seine-Inférieure), or from Saint-Samson (Calvados), Saint-Samson-de-Bonfosse (La Manche) or Saint-Samson-de-la-Roque (Eure)." 1 Early Origins of the Sanner familyThe surname Sanner was first found in Gloucestershire, but the family was quickly scattered throughout Britain as they claim descendancy from "De St. Sampson, from the lordship near Caen, Normandy. Ralph de St. Sansom accompanied the Conqueror, and [by] 1086 held estates in several counties. William Sampson, his descendant, was summoned to Parliament as a Baron 1297-1304. " 2 "A well-known monastery near Rouen was built by the Archbishop of Dol, known as St. Sansone or St. Sampson." 3 Sanson is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, but the entry does not list what county. 4 As a forename, Samson, Sansone, Sampson Takel was listed in Lincolnshire and Samson Cornuwala was found in Yorkshire c. 1170. The Pipe Rolls of 1130 for Nottinghamshire lists Hugo Samson as holding lands there at that time. In Lancashire, Philip Sampson was listed there in 1192 and in Somerset, we found Hemericus Samsun in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1221. 1 "The name was popular in Yorkshire and the eastern counties where it was introduced by the Bretons after the Conquest, and also in the Welsh border counties where it no doubt came from Wales." 1 Interestingly, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 includes only entries for the name as a forename: Sansum le Rus, Cambridgeshire; Samson de Baterford, Bedfordshire; and Sampson de Boxe, Wiltshire. 3 Samsom (died 1112), was and English divine, Bishop of Worcester, born at Douvres near Caen, was the son of Osbert and Muriel, who were of noble lineage. Samsom (1135-1211), was Abbot of St. Edmund's, born at Tottington, near Thetford in Norfolk. "When nine years old he was taken by his mother on a pilgrimage to St. Edmund's. 'As a poor clerk,' he received gratuitous instruction from a schoolmaster named William of Diss. " 5 Early History of the Sanner familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sanner research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1112, 1517, 1554, 1589, 1590, 1600, 1612, 1627, 1629, 1636, 1667, 1668, 1680, 1700, 1736, 1756, 1769 and 1777 are included under the topic Early Sanner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Sanner Spelling VariationsEndless spelling variations are a prevailing characteristic of Norman surnames. Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules, and the introduction of Norman French added an unfamiliar ingredient to the English linguistic stew. French and Latin, the languages of the court, also influenced spellings. Finally, Medieval scribes generally spelled words according to how they sounded, so one person was often referred to by different spellings in different documents. The name has been spelled Sampson, Samson and others. Early Notables of the Sanner familyOutstanding amongst the family at this time was Nicolas Sanson (1600-1667), a French cartographer of Scottish descent; William Sampson (1590?-1636?), an English dramatist from Retford, Nottinghamshire; and his son, Henry Sampson (1629?-1700), an English nonconformist minister and physician. Born at South Leverton, Nottinghamshire, and after the Restoration, he preached for some time privately at Framlingham, and founded an independent congregation, which still exists. Turning to medicine, he studied at Padua and at Leyden, where he graduated M.D. on 12 July 1668. He practised in London, and was admitted an honorary fellow of the College of Physicians on 30 Sept. 1680. 5Richard...
Another 100 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sanner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Sanner RankingIn the United States, the name Sanner is the 10,571st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6  Migration of the Sanner family to Ireland
Some of the Sanner family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Sanner migration to the United States | + |
To escape the political and religious persecution within England at the time, many English families left for the various British colonies abroad. The voyage was extremely difficult, though, and the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving. But for those who made it, the trip was most often worth it. Many of the families who arrived went on to make valuable contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families reveals a number of immigrants bearing the name Sanner or a variant listed above:
Sanner Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Sarah Sanner, who arrived in Virginia in 1642 7
- John Sanner, who landed in Maryland in 1680 7
Sanner Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Lodowick Sanner, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1760 7
- Jacob Sanner, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1771 7
Sanner Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Peter Sanner, who landed in America in 1849 7
- Job Wilh, VI Sanner, who arrived in America in 1854 7
| Contemporary Notables of the name Sanner (post 1700) | + |
- Michael A. Sanner, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Somerset, Pennsylvania, 1841
- John P. Sanner, American Republican politician, Chair of Stark County Republican Party, 1950
- Jeffery W. Sanner, American politician, Mayor of West Carrollton, Ohio, 2011-13
- Felix J. Sanner, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Kings County 19th District, 1909-10; Member of New York State Senate 9th District, 1911-14
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: Pejus letho flagitium
Motto Translation: Disgrace is worse than Death.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- 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)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
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Sanner migration to the United States 
England
Ireland
