Sievwright History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
England

Early Origins of the Sievwright family

The surname Sievwright was first found in Angus (Gaelic: Aonghas), part of the Tayside region of northeastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, formerly known as Forfar or Forfarshire, where they held a family seat at Brechin, a borough near Montrose in that shire. This name is one of the few surnames of Scotland which can truly claim to be a trade name, it being from one who make sieves. 1

Crossing the border into Yorkshire, England we found Simon le siuewricht' listed in the Assize Rolls of 1219 and John le Syvewryct' in the Subsidy Rolls of 1301. 2

However, by the 12th or 13th century the name had lost much of its relationship to a trade and the name became distinguished in its own right.

Early History of the Sievwright family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sievwright research. Another 101 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1512, 1567, 1716, 1753 and 1798 are included under the topic Early Sievwright History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sievwright Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sivwright, Sievewright, Seivewright, Sivewright, Sivright, Sivwrite, Sievewrite, Seivwright, Sevright, Savewrite, Savewright, Seivwrite, Sievwrite, Siffwright, Sifwright, Sifricht and many more.

Early Notables of the Sievwright family

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

Sievwright migration to Australia +

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

Sievwright Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Robert Sievwright, Scottish convict who was convicted in Perth, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 25th January 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 3

Sievwright migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Sievwright Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. David Sievwright, (b. 1845), aged 29, Scottish shoemaker, from Forfar travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Oamaru" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 17th February 1875 4
Mrs. Ellen Sievwright, (b. 1843), aged 31, Scottish settler, from Forfar travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Oamaru" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 17th February 1875 4
Mr. James Sievwright, (b. 1863), aged 11, Scottish settler, from Forfar travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Oamaru" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 17th February 1875 4
Miss Annie Sievwright, (b. 1865), aged 9, Scottish settler, from Forfar travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Oamaru" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 17th February 1875 4
Miss Jessie Sievwright, (b. 1867), aged 7, Scottish settler, from Forfar travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Oamaru" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 17th February 1875 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Sievwright 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: Recte ferio
Motto Translation: I strike straight

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 4th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html