Recorded as Sai, Say, Saye, Sey, and probably others, this intriguing name is of French origins, of which it may have at least two. The first is locational from a place called Sai in the departement of Orne, or from Say, in the region of France known as Indre. These places were originally named after an early 5th century Gallic invader called Saius. It is likely that the personal name was introduced into the British Isles with the Norman Conquest of 1066, although it does not seem to appear in the famous Domesday Book of 1086.
The second possibility is that this is a metonymic occupational surname for a maker or dealer in a particularly finely textured cloth called in England 'say'. Again the true origin is French from the word 'saie' and the earlier Latin 'saga'. Records show that Giles Say lived at Stokesay Castle, near Ludlow, Shropshire, in the 14th century, and there is a brass sepulchral tablet of Lady Elizabeth Say, the daughter of Sir John Say, dated 1473, in Broxbourne Vicarage, Hertfordshire, whilst James Sey was recorded at St Dunstans in the East, Stepney, on January 30th 1593. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Jordan de Sai. This was dated 1161, in the Eynsham Cartulary, Oxfordshire, during the reign of King Henry 11nd of England, and known as 'The Builder of Churches', 1154 -1189. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as the Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
The history of the surname saye is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of saye.
It is common for surnames like saye to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones.
The historical journey of the surname saye can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of saye.
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Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all sayes who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname saye who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname saye.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of saye, and at the same time, of surnames in general.