Sasoon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Sasoon

What does the name Sasoon mean?

The Sasoon surname is derived from the Old French word "Sarrazin," meaning "Saracen." It is thought to have been a nickname in Medieval England for someone of swarthy appearance, or for someone returned from the Crusades, before becoming a surname.

Early Origins of the Sasoon family

The surname Sasoon was first found in Cumberland where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the 13th century when they held estates in that county.

Early History of the Sasoon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sasoon research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1285, 1327, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Sasoon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sasoon Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Sasoon family name include Sarson, Sarsen, Saracen, Sarason, Sareson and many more.

Early Notables of the Sasoon family

More information is included under the topic Early Sasoon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sasoon family

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, Canada, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Early immigrants bearing the Sasoon surname or a spelling variation of the name include: Rich Sarson, who was on record in Virginia in 1654; Thomas Sarson, who came to Virginia in 1656; as well as Hans Peter Sarson, who was naturalized in Illinois in 1891..