Surname Sail - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Sail: What does the surname Sail mean?
The surname Sail is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from the Old English word 'sal', which means the willow tree. This was typically a common tree along the edges of streams and marshland, and as such, the name was used as a topographical surname to describe someone who lived near a willow tree or in a strip of marshland near a stream.
Sail was likely spread out during the Middle Ages as families moved along the waterways of the British Isles, taking the surname with them. Through the centuries it carried on to other countries including the United States, Canada, and Australia.
The name Sail is also likely to have some links to royalty, since during the Saxon period, 'Willows' (the literal interpretation of the word 'Sal') were often used to make bows for the Saxon King's armies. It is likely that those of standing in the Saxon period would have borne this surname as a marker of their loyalty to the King's standing army.
The surname Sail is still in use today, and continues to serve as a reminder of the Saxon period and the movement of people along the waterways of the British Isles. It has long been associated with strength and loyalty, and continues to be a timeless part of the family identity.
Order DNA origin analysisSail: Where does the name Sail come from?
The last name Sail is most commonly found today in Algeria, France, and the United States. In Algeria, it is one of the most common surnames among the country’s Berber population and can be traced back to the Roman Empire. In France, Sail is derived mainly from the Latin term saltuarius meaning “huntsman” or “woodsman.” In the United States, it is most commonly used in southern states due to its French influence. It is not as common as it once was and is found mostly in certain parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
In addition to its presence in North Africa and the Americas, the last name can be found in the United Kingdom, where an immigrant family from southern France moved to Devonshire in the 1300s. Later, about a century later, a family with the Sail surname moved from Loire-Atlantique, a region in France near the English Channel, to England. It was presumably this family that would later move to colonial America and add new vigor to the Sail name in the United States. Today, it is also possible to find members of the Sail family in Europe, Australia, and South Africa.
Variations of the surname Sail
The surname Sail is an uncommon one which is believed to have derived originally from the old French personal name Sail or Sael. There are several variants, spellings and surnames with the same origin, some of which are listed here.
Variants: Sael, Sall, Saile
Spellings: Sail, Sayle, Sale, Sailed, Seyl, Seyle
Surnames: Sayles, Sayell, Salle, Saylors, Saillers, Sailsman.
The variant spellings and surnames derived from the name Sail all have slightly different meanings and are believed to have a downside to offer clues about the original bearer of the name. The spelling Sale, for example, may be a variation of the old French personal name Saël, which may have meant 'recently blessed' or 'God's enemy', while the surname Sayles could be derived from the old French expression S'aille, which translates as 'seeks' or 'goes in a certain direction'. Similarly, the spelling Seyle may have been derived from the Old French phrase seille which translates as 'willful' or 'independent'.
Although there are many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Sail, its exact origin is unknown. Research suggests, however, that the original bearer of the name was likely to have descended from the French province of Normandie which was home to the feudal lords of the House of Sael.
Famous people with the name Sail
- Erick Sail: A Grammy-nominated musician, engineer and songwriter.
- Leonardo Sail: Venezuelan actor who has appeared in telenovelas and television series.
- Braden Sail: Canadian actor, writer, and stand-up comedian.
- Ryder Sail: An American child actor known for roles in comedy films such as Bad Santa, Cheaper By The Dozen and Just Go With It.
- Rayail Sail: Algerian professional boxer.
- Sean Sail: British born American stuntman, stunt driver and martial artist.
- Valerie Sail: Canadian film and television actress.
- Emmanuel Sail: A Cameroonian professional football player.
- Yannis Sail: Greek professional basketball player.
- Justino Sail: Puerto Rican professional boxer.