Sawtell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Sawtell

What does the name Sawtell mean?

The many generations and branches of the Sawtell family can all place the origins of their surname with the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. Their name reveals that an early member worked as a manufacturer or dealer in salt, 'the Salter.' "The Salters' Company was early among the London Guilds." 1 2 3 4

"A maker of salt [was] a business of great importance in the middle ages, when the produce of the land was almost entirely consumed on the spot, and immense quantities of victuals of all kinds had to he salted, in order that they might be kept the whole year round." 5

Alternatively the name could have originated with " 'the sautreour,' a player on the psaltery, or 'gay sawtrye,' as Chaucer styles it. A stringed instrument of the harp class." 1

While the first entry is the prevailing understanding of the etomology of the name, one source claims the name was Norman/French as the Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae lists William Salatre in Normandy in 1198. 6

Early Origins of the Sawtell family

The surname Sawtell was first found in various shires throughout ancient Britain. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed John le Saltere, Cambridgeshire; and Nygel le Salter, Wiltshire. 1 In Somerset, Thomas le Saltar was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 7

Later in Yorkshire, Willelmus Salter; and Thomas de Wollay, Salter were both listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. Janetto la Sautreour was a minstrel of Queen Isabelle, according to the Close Rolls, 2 Edward III. "This would easily get corrupted to Salter, as the form psalterie was in use in the 12th century" 1 "William le Sautreour, [was] minstrel to the Lady Margaret, Queen of England 1304." 8

Back in Somerset, another source notes that Robert and Philip le Salter was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1243 and later in Essex in 1262. Thomas le Selter was found in the Subsidy Rolls for Sussex in 1296 and William le Saltere was recorded in the Assize Rolls for Northumberland in 1279. 8

Early History of the Sawtell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sawtell research. Another 88 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1383, 1386, 1388, 1397, 1399, 1404, 1541, 1554, 1580, 1650, 1673, 1718 and 1723 are included under the topic Early Sawtell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sawtell Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Sawtell were recorded, including Salter, Sallter, Saltier, Saltire and others.

Early Notables of the Sawtell family

Distinguished members of the family include William Salter (died 1404), English politician, a weaver, one of the wealthiest men in his area, Member of Parliament for Devizes 1383, 1386, 1388, 1397, and 1399.Thomas Salter (fl. 1580) was an English author, is said by Ritson to have been a schoolmaster. If so, he...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sawtell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sawtell migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Sawtell family emigrate to North America:

Sawtell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Sawtell, who arrived in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1639 9
Thomas Sawtell, who landed in Massachusetts in 1649 9

Sawtell migration to Australia +

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

Sawtell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Sawtell, aged 43, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Nimroud"
Emily Sawtell, aged 17, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Nimroud"
John Sawtell, aged 43, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Switzerland"
Joseph Sawtell, aged 17, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Switzerland"
Rachell Sawtell, aged 15, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Switzerland"

Sawtell 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:

Sawtell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Henry Sawtell, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "John Masterman" in 1857
Miss Mary Jane Sawtell, (b. 1836), aged 22, British domestic servant travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Maori" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th April 1858 10
Miss Emma Sawtell, (b. 1840), aged 26, British shop woman travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Bombay" arriving in Lyttelton, South Island, New Zealand on 18th August 1866 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Sawtell (post 1700) +

Martin Sawtell, American visual effects specialist, known for his work with Lucasfilm in Star Wars: Episode VII-The Force Awakens (2015), Avengers: Age of Ultron (2015) and Olympus Has Fallen (2013)
Joshua Sawtell, American actor and producer, known for The Corners (2010), How to Kill Your Boss and Friends Like These (2014)
Henry Sawtell, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Montana, 1960 11
Oswald Sawtell, Australian land developer, eponym of Sawtell, New South Wales
Cassandra Sawtell (b. 1997), Canadian Young Artist Award nominated actress, known for her work in She's the Man (2006), The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus (2009) and Good Luck Chuck (2007)
Paul Sawtell (1906-1971), Polish-born film score composer, known for his work in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964), Hawaiian Eye (1959) and Broken Arrow (1956)

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 4) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html