Savage
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Savage Surname Genealogy
The surname Savage comes from the French sauvage, a nickname for someone with a wild disposition and fierce temper. Another interpretation of the name was as follows:
Le Sauvage was the name of a Norman family. The name is believed to have crossed the Channel at or after the time of the Norman Conquest.
England. The first le Sauvage in England appears to have been Robert le Sauvage, recorded at Broadwater in Sussex in the Domesday Book of 1086. This family later migrated to Stainsby in Derbyshire and subsequently to Clifton in Cheshire. Another early Savage line was to be found at Stockbury and Bobbing in Kent. Sir Arnold le Sauvage of this family, who died in 1410, was twice elected as Speaker of the House of Commons.
By the late 14th century the main Savage line was to be found at Clifton in Cheshire. John Savage fought for Henry VII at Bosworth Field in 1485; Thomas Savage was Archbishop of York in 1501; and another Savage branch began at Elmley castle in Gloucestershire at this time. Sir John Savage had Rocksavage, a great showpiece Elizabethan mansion, built at Clifton in 1568.
In the 17th century, the Savages were ennobled as Earl Rivers. John Savage, the second Earl and a Catholic, played a prominent part in raising troops for the King during the Civil War. Richard Savage the poet was the illegitimate son of Richard, the fourth Earl. Meanwhile, two 19th century English poets, Walter Savage Landor and Alfred Lord Tennyson, have Savage descent.
There has been a notable Savage presence in Yorkshire, dating back to the 1360's when Will Savage was the rector at St. Helens, Treeton near Rotherham. Sir Edward Savage of the Cheshire Savages became bailiff of Hatfield near Doncaster in 1495 and his arms are to be found in the local church there. Savages in and around Sheffield date from the 1600's. George Savage was a razor grinder in the town in the early 19th century.
Ireland. The county Down family of Savage - Savage of the Ards - was planted there by William le Sauvage from Kent who had served under de Courcey in his Ulster invasion in 1177. He built his castle on the summit of the hill at Ardkeen in the region of county Down known as the Ards. Over time, the Savages became fully part of the Irish landscape (the Gaelic version of their name was Mac an tSabhasaigh) and were constantly at war with other Irish clans in the area, in particular with their arch-rivals, the Clandeboye O'Niells.
The Savages at Portaferry established themselves as the Lord Savages of Arde by converting to Protestantism in the 16th century. They changed their name to Nugent in 1812. This prompted one disgruntled member of the family to retort that he would "rather be an old savage than a new gent!" Lady Dorcas Savage, who died in 1835, was the last of these old Savages. The story of the family has been told in GF Savage-Armstrong's 1888 book The Ancient and Noble Family of the Savages of the Ards.
America. Savage was an early name in Virginia history:
Select Savage Miscellany
Select Savage Names
William le Sauvage was in 1170 the first of the Savages of the Ards in county Down.
John Savage, the 2nd Earl Rivers, was Catholic gentry from Cheshire. He was a key supporter of Charles I during the Civil War.
Jim Savage was the California pioneer who discovered the Yosemite valley.
Michael Savage, of Irish parentage, was the first Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand, taking office in 1935.
Select Savages Today
Site Map: Select Names
The Origin/Spread of Surnames
The surname Savage comes from the French sauvage, a nickname for someone with a wild disposition and fierce temper. Another interpretation of the name was as follows:
"When first born as a surname, Le
Sauvage signified, probably not the ferocious but the forester, as
distinguished from the inhabitants of fortified towns."
Le Sauvage was the name of a Norman family. The name is believed to have crossed the Channel at or after the time of the Norman Conquest.
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Savage
Resources on
The
Internet
- Savage Family Ancestors. Savages in England and America.
- History of the Savage Family. The Sussex Savage Family.
- Walt's Savage Family. Early Savage families.
- History of Rocksavage. Rocksavage in Clifton, Cheshire.
- The Savages of Drumaroad. A county Down family.
- Savage Ancestry. Thomas Savage in early Virginia.
- Savage DNA Project. Savage DNA.
England. The first le Sauvage in England appears to have been Robert le Sauvage, recorded at Broadwater in Sussex in the Domesday Book of 1086. This family later migrated to Stainsby in Derbyshire and subsequently to Clifton in Cheshire. Another early Savage line was to be found at Stockbury and Bobbing in Kent. Sir Arnold le Sauvage of this family, who died in 1410, was twice elected as Speaker of the House of Commons.
By the late 14th century the main Savage line was to be found at Clifton in Cheshire. John Savage fought for Henry VII at Bosworth Field in 1485; Thomas Savage was Archbishop of York in 1501; and another Savage branch began at Elmley castle in Gloucestershire at this time. Sir John Savage had Rocksavage, a great showpiece Elizabethan mansion, built at Clifton in 1568.
In the 17th century, the Savages were ennobled as Earl Rivers. John Savage, the second Earl and a Catholic, played a prominent part in raising troops for the King during the Civil War. Richard Savage the poet was the illegitimate son of Richard, the fourth Earl. Meanwhile, two 19th century English poets, Walter Savage Landor and Alfred Lord Tennyson, have Savage descent.
There has been a notable Savage presence in Yorkshire, dating back to the 1360's when Will Savage was the rector at St. Helens, Treeton near Rotherham. Sir Edward Savage of the Cheshire Savages became bailiff of Hatfield near Doncaster in 1495 and his arms are to be found in the local church there. Savages in and around Sheffield date from the 1600's. George Savage was a razor grinder in the town in the early 19th century.
Ireland. The county Down family of Savage - Savage of the Ards - was planted there by William le Sauvage from Kent who had served under de Courcey in his Ulster invasion in 1177. He built his castle on the summit of the hill at Ardkeen in the region of county Down known as the Ards. Over time, the Savages became fully part of the Irish landscape (the Gaelic version of their name was Mac an tSabhasaigh) and were constantly at war with other Irish clans in the area, in particular with their arch-rivals, the Clandeboye O'Niells.
The Savages at Portaferry established themselves as the Lord Savages of Arde by converting to Protestantism in the 16th century. They changed their name to Nugent in 1812. This prompted one disgruntled member of the family to retort that he would "rather be an old savage than a new gent!" Lady Dorcas Savage, who died in 1835, was the last of these old Savages. The story of the family has been told in GF Savage-Armstrong's 1888 book The Ancient and Noble Family of the Savages of the Ards.
America. Savage was an early name in Virginia history:
- Ensign
Thomas Savage was just thirteen when in 1608 in Jamestown he
was given to Powhatan as a hostage by Captain Newport so that he could
maintain Powhatan's friendship.
- and "Carpenter" Thomas Savage, who arrived possibly in the early 1630's and was a prominent figure in early Northampton and Accomack county histories. He was known as a builder of watercraft, a manufacturer of casks and barrels, and a large plantation owner.
Select Savage Miscellany
If you would like to read more, click on the miscellany page for
further stories and accounts:
Select Savage Names
William le Sauvage was in 1170 the first of the Savages of the Ards in county Down.
John Savage, the 2nd Earl Rivers, was Catholic gentry from Cheshire. He was a key supporter of Charles I during the Civil War.
Jim Savage was the California pioneer who discovered the Yosemite valley.
Michael Savage, of Irish parentage, was the first Labour Prime Minister of New Zealand, taking office in 1935.
Select Savages Today
- 24,000 in the UK (most numerous in Hertfordshire)
- 15,000 in America (most numerous in New York)
- 9,000 elsewhere (most numerous in Australia).
Site Map: Select Names
The Origin/Spread of Surnames
For other surnames check the companion selectsurname.com site where there are to be found the history and genealogy for more than 500 surnames.