Show ContentsSaulnier History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Périgord region of France is the ancient homeland of this noble name.

Early Origins of the Saulnier family

The surname Saulnier was first found in Périgord, where this eminent family held a family seat since ancient times.

By the 14th century this family were well established in many regions and many members of the family were distinctive citizens who held lands and titles. On 5th November 1340, Arnaud Saulnier was ranked as nobility and his lineage was continued until 1666. Throughout the centuries this ancient family branched, prospered, and expanded to various provinces where the members of the family adapted to the cultural and linguistic variations in these areas and became prominent members of their respective regions.

The Saulnier families of Anchald in Auvergne and in Bourbonnais, received their patents of nobility in 1816 and were hereditary Viscounts in 1828.

Early History of the Saulnier family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Saulnier research. The year 1340 is included under the topic Early Saulnier History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Saulnier Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Saulnier, Saunier, Saulniée, Saulniaye, Saulnyé, Solniere, Solnierre, Soulnierre, Salnier and many more.

Early Notables of the Saulnier family

Notable amongst the name at this time was

  • Arnaud Saulnier was ranked as nobility on November 5, 1340

Saulnier Ranking

In France, the name Saulnier is the 808th most popular surname with an estimated 6,259 people with that name. 1


Saulnier migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Saulnier Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Madeleine Saulnier, who settled in Carolina in 1695-1696
Saulnier Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Marie Joseph Saulnier, aged 48, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1785 2
  • John Saulnier, who settled in Philadelphia in 1798
  • Joseph Saulnier, who settled in Philadelphia in 1798

Saulnier migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Saulnier Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Francoise Saulnier, who arrived in Montreal in 1659
  • Pierre Saulnier, who arrived in Montreal in 1663

Contemporary Notables of the name Saulnier (post 1700) +

  • Steve Saulnier, American football player and coach
  • Raymond J. Saulnier (1908-2009), American economist, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) (1956 to 1961)
  • Jules Saulnier (1817-1881), French architect, best remembered for his work on the Menier Chocolate Co. buildings in Noisiel, France
  • Cyril Saulnier (b. 1975), French tennis player
  • Tania Saulnier (b. 1982), Canadian actress, best known for her role in the film Slither
  • Lucien Saulnier CC (1916-1989), Canadian politician, chair of the Montreal Urban Community during the October Crisis
  • Aldéo Saulnier, Canadian politician, mayor of Bouctouche, New Brunswick


  1. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  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)


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