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![Show Contents]() Sarnesfel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Ireland already had an established system of hereditary surnames when the Strongbownians arrived. Often the two traditions blended together quite well due to some of their basic similarities, but the incoming Anglo-Norman system brought in some forms that were uncommon amongst the Irish. One of these Anglo-Norman anomalies was the prevalence of local surnames, such as Sarnesfel. Local names were taken from the names of a place or a geographical feature where the person lived, held land, or was born. Originally, the place names were prefixed by de, which means from in French. This type of prefix was eventually either made a part of the surname if the place name began with a vowel or was eliminated entirely. The local surnames of these Strongbownian invaders referred to places in Normandy, or more typically England, but eventually for those Anglo-Normans that remained in Ireland, the nicknames referred to places or geographical features of the island: they became true local names. The Sarnesfel family appears to have originally lived in either of the settlements named Sarnesfield in the English counties of Herefordshire and Worcestershire. The surname Sarnesfel belongs to the large category of Anglo-Norman habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. The Gaelic form of the surname Sarnesfel is Sáirséil. Early Origins of the Sarnesfel familyThe surname Sarnesfel was first found in County Cork (Irish: Corcaigh) the ancient Kingdom of Deis Muin (Desmond), located on the southwest coast of Ireland in the province of Munster, where they were granted lands by Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, for their assistance in the invasion of Ireland in 1172. Another reference claims "the first of the family of Sarsfield who settled in Ireland is said to have been Thomas de Sarsfield. 'chief banner-bearer' to King Henry II., AD 1172." 1 Early History of the Sarnesfel familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sarnesfel research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1300, 1528, 1570, 1598, 1636, 1648, 1660, 1678, 1681, 1687, 1693 and 1701 are included under the topic Early Sarnesfel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Sarnesfel Spelling VariationsChurch officials and medieval scribes often spelled early surnames as they sounded. This practice often resulted in many spelling variations of even a single name. Early versions of the name Sarnesfel included: Sarsefield, Sarnesfield, Sarsfield, Sharisfield, Sarisfield, Sarisfell, Sarsfell, Sarnesfell and many more. Early Notables of the Sarnesfel familyNotable amongst the family up to this time was Jenet Sarsfield, Baroness Dunsany ( c.1528-1598 ), an Irish noblewoman from County Meath, memorable for having six husbands; Dominick Sarsfield, 1st Viscount Sarsfield (c. 1570-1636), Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas, but was removed from office for corruption and died in disgrace; William Sarsfield, 2nd Viscount Sarsfield (d. 1648); David Sarsfield, 3rd Viscount Sarsfield (d. 1687); and Dominick Sarsfield, 4th Viscount Sarsfield (d. 1701)
Patrick Sarsfield (c. 1660-1693), the first Earl of Lucan, an Irish Jacobite...
Another 85 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sarnesfel Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Sarnesfel familyIreland went through one of the most devastating periods in its history with the arrival of the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s. Many also lost their lives from typhus, fever and dysentery. And poverty was the general rule as tenant farmers were often evicted because they could not pay the high rents. Emigration to North America gave hundreds of families a chance at a life where work, freedom, and land ownership were all possible. For those who made the long journey, it meant hope and survival. The Irish emigration to British North America and the United States opened up the gates of industry, commerce, education and the arts. Early immigration and passenger lists have shown many Irish people bearing the name Sarnesfel: Will Sarsfield settled in Georgia in 1734; Monarch Sarsfield arrived in Philadelphia in 1871.
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: Virtus non vertitur
Motto Translation: Virtue not changed.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
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Ireland
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