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Show ContentsSaunders History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

  • Origins Available:
  • Ireland
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Etymology of Saunders

What does the name Saunders mean?

The Anglo-Norman surname Saunders is derived from the name Saunder, which is a pet form of the personal name Alexander. This name was originally derived from the Greek personal name Alexandros which literally means defender of men.

Early Origins of the Saunders family

The surname Saunders was first found in County Wicklow (Irish: Cill Mhantáin), known as the “last county,” created only in 1606, located on the East coast of Ireland, today part of the Greater Dublin Area, where they were granted lands by Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, for their assistance in the invasion of Ireland in 1172.

Early History of the Saunders family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Saunders research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1530, 1555, 1581, 1620, 1648, 1683, 1695 and 1710 are included under the topic Early Saunders History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Saunders Spelling Variations

Since church officials and medieval scribes spelt each name as it sounded to them; as a result, a single person could accumulate many different versions of his name within official records. A close examination of the origins of the name Saunders revealed the following spelling variations: Saunders, Sanders, Sawnders, Sainders, Saynders, Saunderrs, Sannders, Sanderrs, Saunder and many more.

Early Notables of the Saunders family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was

  • Laurence Saunders, a preacher of Northamptonshire, burned at the stake on February 8, 1555 for his Protestant views
  • Sir Edmund Saunders (died 1683), was an English judge, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench; and Tobias Saunders (c.1620-1695), was an English-born, Deputy to the Rhode Island General Assembly, Cons...

Saunders World Ranking

In the United States, the name Saunders is the 421st most popular surname with an estimated 67,149 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Saunders is ranked the 256th most popular surname with an estimated 16,107 people with that name. 2 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Saunders is the 51st popular surname with an estimated 472 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Saunders as 143rd with 19,828 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Saunders as 139th with 3,491 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Saunders as 118th with 41,531 people. 6 South Africa ranks Saunders as 857th with 8,136 people. 7

Saunders migration to the United States +

Ireland's Great Potato Famine left the country's inhabitants in extreme poverty and starvation. Many families left their homeland for North America for the promise of work, freedom and land ownership. Although the Irish were not free of economic and racial discrimination in North America, they did contribute greatly to the rapid development of bridges, canals, roads, and railways. Eventually, they would be accepted in other areas such as commerce, education, and the arts. An examination of immigration and passenger lists revealed many bearing the name Saunders:

Saunders Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Saunders, who landed in Weymouth, Massachusetts in 1623 8
  • John Saunders, who landed in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1634 8
  • Mr. John Saunders, (Sanders), (d. 1634), who owner of the Dove, who left England and arrived in Maryland in 1634 aboard the ship "Ark and Dove" 8
  • Mary Saunders, aged 26, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo 8
  • Mr. Martin Saunders, aged 40, from Suffolk, who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Planter" 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Saunders Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Joseph Saunders, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1734-1736 8
  • Mrs. Robert Saunders, who arrived in Georgia in 1734 8
  • Anna Mary Saunders, who arrived in New England in 1750 8
  • Anna Mary Saunders, who landed in Massachusetts in 1751 8
  • John Hyde Saunders, who landed in Virginia in 1772 8
Saunders Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Peter Saunders, who arrived in America in 1811 8
  • Walter Saunders, who arrived in Maryland in 1811 8
  • David Saunders, who landed in New York in 1823 8
  • George Saunders, who landed in New York, NY in 1830 8
  • Miss Rebecca Saunders, (b. 1811), aged 21, Cornish settler departing from Plymouth aboard the ship “Andromeda” arriving in the United States on 10th May 1832 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Saunders Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Harry Saunders, (b. 1876), aged 28, Cornish butler travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 13th November 1904 en route to New York, USA 10

Saunders migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Saunders Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • George Saunders, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Margaret Saunders, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Mary Saunders, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • William Saunders, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Timothy Saunders, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1760
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Saunders Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • James Saunders, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Pallas" from Cork, Ireland
  • Mr. Owen Saunders, aged 4 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Naomi" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in August 1847 11
  • Miss. Catherine Saunders, aged 4 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Avon" departing 19th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th July 1847 but she died on board 12
  • Mrs. Margaret Saunders, aged 28 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Avon" departing 19th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th July 1847 but she died on board 12
  • Miss. Mary Saunders who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Avon" departing 19th May 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th July 1847 but she died on board 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Saunders migration to Australia +

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

Saunders Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Mr. James Saunders, (b. 1762), aged 31, Irish convict who was convicted in Antrim, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Boddingtons" on 15th February 1793, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Saunders Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Saunders, British Convict who was convicted in Devon, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Mr. Thomas Saunders, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
  • Miss Mary Saunders, (b. 1785), aged 24, Irish convict who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 21st January 1809, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Mr. Richard Saunders, English convict who was convicted in Hereford, Herefordshire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • Mr. Joel Farr Saunders, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Saunders 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:

Saunders Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. H T Saunders, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Brazil Packet" arriving in New Zealand in 1833 18
  • William Saunders, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1836
  • Joseph Saunders, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • William Herman Saunders, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Mr Saunders, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1842 aboard the ship Prince of Wales
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Saunders (post 1700) +

  • Carl Saunders (1942-2023), American jazz trumpeter, composer, and educator who performed with Stan Kenton, Buddy Rich, Bill Holman, Clare Fischer, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, and Paul Anka
  • Gil Saunders (d. 2021), American lead singer with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes
  • Arlene Saunders (1930-2020), American spinto soprano opera singer; she died of COVID-19
  • Jeraldine Saunders (1923-2019), born Geraldine Loretta Glynn, an American writer and lecturer, best known as the creator of The Love Boat, an ABC Television series. based on her time as the first full time female cruise director
  • Philip Daniel "Flip" Saunders (1955-2015), American basketball player and coach
  • Robert Saunders (1929-2016), American politician, Member of the Florida Senate (1969-1971) and (1973-1976)
  • John Peterson Saunders (1955-2016), Canadian-American sports journalist for ESPN and ABC
  • Harold Henry "Hal" Saunders (1930-2016), American diplomat, 12th United States Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs (1978-1981), 6th Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research (1975-1978)
  • Joseph Francis Saunders (b. 1981), American Major League Baseball pitcher
  • John Monk Saunders (1895-1940), Oscar-winning American novelist, screenwriter and movie director
  • ... (Another 122 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. Robert Saunders, British Master At Arms from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 19
Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. Harry W.  Saunders (1867-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 20
  • Master Frank  Saunders (1913-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 20
  • Mr. Joseph  Saunders, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 20
  • Mrs. Agnes  Saunders (1893-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 20
  • Mr. Albert  Saunders (1894-1917), Canadian Able Seaman aboard the HMCS Niobe from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 20
  • ... (Another 1 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Dorsetshire
  • Stanley Alfred Saunders (d. 1945), British Petty Officer aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 21
HMS Hood
  • Mr. James G Saunders (b. 1913), English Stoker 2nd Class serving for the Royal Navy from Wokingham, Surrey, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 22
  • Mr. Arthur W Saunders (b. 1920), English Engine Room Artificer 4th Class serving for the Royal Navy from Hilsea, Portsmouth, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 22
  • Mr. Albert Saunders (b. 1915), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Landport, Portsmouth, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 22
North Sea Flood
  • T. W. Saunders, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)
  • Scott Christopher Saunders (1967-1988), American Student from Macungie, Pennsylvania, America, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 23
  • Theresa Elizabeth Jane Saunders (1960-1988), English Marketing from Sunbury-on-Thames, England, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 23
Prince of Wales colliery
  • Mr. Henry Saunders (b. 1863), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 24
  • Mr. Richard Saunders (b. 1841), Welsh coal miner who was working at the Prince of Wales Colliery in Abercarn, Wales on the 11th September 1878 when there was a coal mine explosion; he died 24
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. D. E. Saunders (d. 1912), aged 26, English Saloon Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 25
  • Mr. F Saunders (d. 1912), aged 23, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 25
  • Mr. W. Saunders (d. 1912), aged 23, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 25
  • Mr. Walter Edward Saunders (d. 1912), aged 23, English Fireman/Stoker from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 25
Senghenydd colliery
  • Mr. Thomas Saunders (b. 1892), Welsh coal miner from Abertridwr, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died 26

The Saunders 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: Nil Conscire Sibi
Motto Translation: Conscious of no Wrong.

Suggested Readings for the name Saunders +

  • Ancestors and Descendants of Henry Simeon Saunders by R.S. Sanders.
  • James & Alvin Sanders, Livestock Journalists of the Midwest by Richard Bryan Helmer.
  • Loomis Legacies and a Saga of Sanders by Lorell Loomis.
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  4. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  6. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  7. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  8. 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)
  9. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  10. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  11. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 54)
  12. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 94)
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/boddingtons
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd June 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/experiment
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
  18. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  19. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  20. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  21. Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
  22. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  23. Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html
  24. Entombed in flood and flame (retrieved 3rd August 2021). Retrieved from https://web.archive.org/web/20120603025705/http://www.crosskeys.me.uk/history/prince.htm
  25. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  26. Universal Colliery Senghenydd 1913 disaster retrieved 21st September 2019, retrieved from http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/deathrolls/SenghenyddDead1913.htm

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