Show ContentsSaxe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Saxe

What does the name Saxe mean?

The Saxe name has descended through the generations from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name comes from having lived in the parish of Saxby in the counties of Lincolnshire and Leicestershire. The surname Saxe is an example of a habitation name which forms a broad category of surnames that were derived from place-names. They were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. As a general rule, the greater the distance between an individual and their homeland, the larger the territory they were named after. For example, a person who only moved to another parish would be known by the name of their original village, while people who migrated to a different country were often known by the name of a region or country from which they came.

Early Origins of the Saxe family

The surname Saxe was first found in Lincolnshire where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Early History of the Saxe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Saxe research. Another 75 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1616 and 1658 are included under the topic Early Saxe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Saxe Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Saxe has undergone many spelling variations, including Saxby, Saxbe, Saxbie, Saxby and others.

Early Notables of the Saxe family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Saxe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Saxe migration to the United States +

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Saxe were among those contributors:

Saxe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joh Dottier Saxe, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1808 1
  • A W Saxe, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 1

Saxe migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Saxe Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. John Saxe U.E. who settled in Eastern District, Matilda [South Dundas], Ontario c. 1784 2

Saxe migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Saxe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Ann Saxe, aged 19, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "William Money" 3
  • Margaret Saxe, aged 18, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "William Money" 3
  • Ann Saxe, aged 19, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Money" in 1849 3
  • Margaret Saxe, aged 18, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Money" in 1849 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Saxe (post 1700) +

  • Kenneth E. Saxe (b. 1962), American technology pundit, Congressional Twenty-First Century Workforce Commission member
  • Melinda Saxe (b. 1965), American magician from Las Vegas
  • Rebecca Saxe, American professor of cognitive neuroscience and associate Dean of Science at MIT
  • Karen Saxe, American mathematician who specializes in functional analysis
  • John Theodore Saxe (1843-1881), American senior member of the Saxe Brothers firm
  • John Godfrey Saxe II (1877-1953), American lawyer and a member of the New York State Senate
  • John Godfrey Saxe I (1816-1887), American poet
  • Edward Lawrence Saxe (1916-2002), American businessman
  • Martin Saxe (1874-1967), American lawyer and politician
  • David Saxe (b. 1969), American Las Vegas-born show producer and theater owner
  • ... (Another 4 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Saxe 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: Sit saxum firmum
Motto Translation: Let the stone be firm.


  1. 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)
  2. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) "WILLIAM MONEY" 1848-49. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849WmMoney.htm


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