Sayers

Sayers
Most surnames have only one or possibly two sources of origin, this surname is different - it has five! These maybe summed up as (in order of likelihood), a derivative of the pre-medieval personal name 'Saher' or 'Seir', which itself is a short form of the Norman name 'Sigiheri' introduced into England after the Conquest of 1066. This itself has a Germanic ancestry and loosely translates as 'victory - army'. The second possible origin is from the medieval occupational name for a wood cutter, 'sayhare', although the usual surname is now 'Sawyer'. The third is from Middle English 'say(en)' or 'seycen', to say, and literally means a professional reciter, one whose occupation was to read or recite both prose and poetry, and no doubt news and gossip as well. The fourth origin is from the medieval occupation of assaying metals or tasting food, derived from the Old French 'essay', meaning a trial or test. The correct spelling in Middle English was 'assayer', which appears to have beeb foreshortened. The plural spelling of the name is a patronymic form, meaning 'son of Sayer', whilst the variants include Sayer, Sayre, Saer, Sare, Seyer, Sear, Seares, Sears, Seer, etc. An unusual recording is that of William Sayers, who emigrated to Virginia, leaving London on the ship 'Bonaventure' in January 1634. He was therefore one of the earliest of the Colonists to America. The Coat of Arms granted in Cornwall in 1620 by James 1st, has the blazon of a gold field, charged with three gold cinquefoils on a back cotised bend. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard le Saer, a witness, which was dated 1204, in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire, during the reign of King John, known as 'Lackland', 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surnames reference. 2013.

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  • Sayers — ist der Familienname folgender Personen: Dorothy L. Sayers (1893–1957), englische Schriftstellerin Gale Sayers (* 1943), US amerikanischer Footballspieler Goldie Sayers (* 1982), britische Speerwerferin Joseph D. Sayers (1841–1929), US… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Sayers —   [ seɪəz],    1) Dorothy L. (Leigh), englische Schriftstellerin, * Oxford 13. 6. 1893, ✝ Witham (County Essex) 17. 12. 1957; studierte 1912 15 in Oxford; bekannt wurde sie durch ihre psychologisch motivierten Kriminalromane mit der Figur des… …   Universal-Lexikon

  • Sayers — [sā′ərz, serz] Dorothy L(eigh) 1893 1957; Eng. writer, esp. of detective stories …   English World dictionary

  • Sayers — Infobox Company company name = Sayers company company type = foundation = 1912 location = Liverpool, England, UK locations = 200 key people = num employees = 1500 industry = Food (Bakery Group) products = Sandwiches, pies and pastries; baked… …   Wikipedia

  • Sayers — noun English writer of detective fiction (1893 1957) • Syn: ↑Dorothy Sayers, ↑Dorothy L. Sayers, ↑Dorothy Leigh Sayers • Instance Hypernyms: ↑writer, ↑author …   Useful english dictionary

  • Sayers (surname) — Sayers is a surname, and may refer to:* Ben Sayers * Dorothy L. Sayers * Foster J. Sayers * Gale Sayers * James Sayers * Joe Sayers * Joseph Sayers * Joseph D. Sayers * Laura Sayers * Peig Sayers * Rena Sayers * Thomas Sayersee also* Sayer …   Wikipedia

  • Sayers, Texas — Sayers is a small unincorporated town located at the intersection of U.S. Route 87 and FM 1628 in eastern Bexar County, Texas, United States.HistorySayers was established after the Civil War. A post office was established in Sayers in 1885. In… …   Wikipedia

  • Sayers,Gale Eugene — Sayers, Gale Eugene. Born 1943. American football player. A running back with the Chicago Bears (1965 1971), he is one of few players to score touchdowns by rushing, receiving, and kick returning during one game, and the first to accomplish this… …   Universalium

  • Sayers, Dorothy L. — ▪ British writer in full  Dorothy Leigh Sayers   born June 13, 1893, Oxford, Oxfordshire, Eng. died Dec. 17, 1957, Witham, Essex       English scholar and writer whose numerous mystery stories featuring the witty and charming Lord Peter Wimsey… …   Universalium

  • Sayers, Gale — ▪ American athlete in full  Gale Eugene Sayers  born May 30, 1943, Wichita, Kansas, U.S.    American gridiron football (football, gridiron) player who in 1977 became the youngest player ever voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Though knee… …   Universalium

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