Show ContentsSauve History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Sauve

What does the name Sauve mean?

The Sauve surname is derived from the Old French given name Sauvé, which comes from the word "sauver," meaning "to save." The name was given to those who were thought to have achieved religious salvation.

Early Origins of the Sauve family

The surname Sauve was first found in Burgundy (French: Bourgogne), an administrative and historical region of east-central France where the family has held a family seat since early times.

One of the first members recorded of the family was Pierre Sayve, Lord of Flavignerot and an accounts clerk in 1491, and who was elected eleven times as Viscount-Mayor of Dijon from 1514 to 1537. Among his children were: Girard, Receiver General of Finance in Bourgogne in 1543, who counted among his descendants two presidents and a First President of Accounts; Jean, an Attorney General, then President of Parliament in 1551, and the head of the Lords of Bussy, the Counts of Lamothe-Palliers and Thil, among whom were Pierre, Brigadier of the King's Armies, who was killed during the crossing of the Rhine; Henri, a Cavalry Camp Master, who became a Lieutenant-General in Bourgogne; and René-Bernard and François-Bernard, who were Knights of Honour at the Parliament of Dijon in 1685 and 1692; and Etienne, a Counsellor of Parliament in 1527, who also formed the branch of the Lords of Vesvrotte, Echigey, Couchey and Chamblanc; and Pierre, who was a Dean of the Sainte-Chapelle of Dijon, an Abbot of Saint-Marguerite, and an Elect of the clergy in 1554 and 1570.

Pierre Sauve, son of François and Marie (née Malleret) of Libourne, travelled to Canada in the 17th century. After arriving in Quebec he married Marie Michel, daughter of Jean and Marie (née Marcheseau), in Lachine on 27th February 1696. 1

Early History of the Sauve family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sauve research. Another 31 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1653, 1696 and 1716 are included under the topic Early Sauve History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sauve Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sauvé, Sauvat and others.

Early Notables of the Sauve family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • Joseph Sauveur (1653-1716), a French mathematician and physicist, Professor of Mathematics and in 1696 became a member of the French Academy of Sciences

Sauve World Ranking

In the United States, the name Sauve is the 11,961st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Sauve is ranked the 425th most popular surname with an estimated 11,011 people with that name. 3 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Sauve is the 269th popular surname. 4 France ranks Sauve as 2,491st with 2,500 - 3,000 people. 5


Sauve migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sauve Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Bayne Sauve, aged 26, who landed in America from England, in 1902
  • Armide Sauve, aged 38, who immigrated to America, in 1909
  • Elizabeth Sauve, aged 50, who landed in America, in 1912
  • Albert Sauve, aged 16, who landed in America, in 1919
  • Gilbert Sauve, aged 18, who settled in America, in 1922
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sauve migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sauve Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Pierre Sauve, son of François and Marie, who married Marie Michel, daughter of Jean and Marie, in Lachine, Quebec on 27th February 1696 6
Sauve Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Jean Sauve, son of Robert and Françoise, who married Antoinette Marie, daughter of Louis and Mathurine, in Montreal, Quebec on 22nd January 1713 6
  • François-Marie Sauve, son of Pierre and Marie, who married Élisabeth Madeleine, daughter of Joseph and Catherine, in Bout-de-l'île, Quebec on 4th April 1731 6
  • Pierre-Jacques Sauve, son of Pierre and Marie, who married Marie Merlot, daughter of Joachim and Jeanne, in Bout-de-l'île, Quebec on 10th January 1736 6
  • Charles Sauve, son of Pierre and Marie, who married Marie-Josephte Léger, daughter of Pierre and Jeanne, in Bout-de-l'île, Quebec on 10th February 1738 6
  • Antoine Sauve, son of Pierre and Marie, who married Marie-Josephte Ducharme, daughter of Jean and Marie-Jeanne, in Lachine, Quebec on 25th February 1743 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Sauve Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Almeida Sauve, aged 34, who settled in Montreal, in 1905
  • Elizabeth G Sauve, aged 50, who settled in Montreal, Canada, in 1912
  • Joseph Alfonso Sauve, aged 51, who immigrated to Montreal, Canada, in 1912
  • Edouard Sauve, aged 26, who immigrated to Vancouver, Canada, in 1920

Contemporary Notables of the name Sauve (post 1700) +

  • Philippe Sauvé (b. 1980), American former professional ice hockey goaltender
  • Jay L. Sauve, American Libertarian politician, Candidate for Michigan State House of Representatives 78th District, 1998 7
  • Christian Sauvé (1943-2023), French painter and professor from Déville-lès-Rouen, German-occupied France
  • Joseph Mignault Paul Sauvé (1907-1960), Canadian politician, Premier of Quebec in 1959
  • Yann Sauvé (b. 1990), Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman
  • Maxime Sauvé (b. 1990), Canadian professional ice hockey player
  • Arthur Sauvé PC (1874-1944), Canadian politician in Quebec, Senator for Rigaud, Quebec (1935-1944), Postmaster General (1930-1935)
  • Jeanne Mathilde Sauvé (1922-1993), Canadian journalist and politician, first female Speaker of the House of Commons, and later became the first woman Governor General of Canada
  • Robert Sauvé (b. 1955), Canadian professional (NHL) hockey goaltender


  1. Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  4. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  5. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  6. Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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