Sawvidge History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

Early Origins of the Sawvidge family

The surname Sawvidge was first found in Cheshire at Barrow, a parish, in the union of Great Boughton, Second division of the hundred of Eddisbury. "[Barrow] consists of Great and Little Barrow. It was given by Ranulph, Earl of Chester, to his nephew William de Albini, Earl of Arundel. The two manors were at a later period possessed by the Despencers, and, after their attainder, were granted by Edward III. to Sir Roger de Swinerton, an heiress of whose family brought them, in marriage, to Sir John Savage, who was knighted by Henry V. at the battle of Agincourt." 1

"Savage is an ancient Gloucestershire name, which was represented as Savage or Sauvage in this county as well as in Wilts, in the reign of Edward I. In that reign it was also numerous in one form or the other in Cambridgeshire and Norfolk, where it is still established." 2

"This surname is derived from a nickname. 'the savage.'" 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Walter Salvage in Oxfordshire: and Robert le Savage in Suffolk. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list: Beatrix Sawage; and Robertus Sawfage. 3

Early History of the Sawvidge family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sawvidge research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1176, 1177, 1358, 1382, 1385, 1386, 1390, 1391, 1393, 1396, 1400, 1401, 1402, 1403, 1404, 1406, 1410, 1463, 1507, 1519, 1603, 1608, 1628, 1635, 1654, 1682, 1694, 1760, 1843 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Sawvidge History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sawvidge Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Savage, Sauvage, Savidge, Savadge and others.

Early Notables of the Sawvidge family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Sir Arnold Savage of Bobbing, Kent (1358-1410), the English Speaker of the House of Commons (1400-1402) and (1403-1404), a Knight of the Shire of Kent who was referred to as "the great comprehensive symbol of the English people", appointed Sheriff of Kent for 1382 and 1386, knighted in 1385, elected knight of the shire (MP) for Kent in 1390, 1391, 1401, 1402 and 1404, being elected speaker twice, constable of Queenborough castle from 1393 to...
Another 83 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sawvidge Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sawvidge family to Ireland

Some of the Sawvidge family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 162 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sawvidge family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Sawvidge or a variant listed above were: Robert and Thomas Savadge settled in Virginia in 1623; Ann, Frank, Mart, Thomas Savage settled in Virginia in 1635; John Savage with his wife and children settled in Fort Cumberland Nova Scotia in 1774.

The Sawvidge Motto +

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: A te pro te
Motto Translation: From thee, for thee.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)