Surname Sale - Meaning and Origin
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Sale: What does the surname Sale mean?
The last name Sale is an ancient English surname, derived from the Middle English and Old French word "sale", which itself has roots in the Latin "salem". Sale was originally used as a topographic name, to describe someone who lived near a body of water or pond, and can be traced back to at least the 12th century. The surname Sale was also used to describe a person who was of a lowly station, such as a peasant. During the Middle Ages, surnames were often taken from identifying features of one's home, such as where the family lived or where a person worked. Since surnames were often given based on physical location, Sale could be used to describe a family that occupied a small plot of land by a pond.
In modern times, the surname Sale can also be of French, Spanish and Middle Eastern origin, with families having immigrated from those regions to the United Kingdom and the United States. In some cases, Sale may be a shortened form of the surname Salinas or Salinero, meaning "salt flat" or "salt marsh".
Regardless of its origin, the surname Sale is not as common today as it once was centuries ago, yet it remains a significant part of the family tree for many families around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisSale: Where does the name Sale come from?
The last name Sale is most common in a handful of countries today, with the highest concentrations of the name found in Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
In Italy, the surname is found predominantly in the region of Emilia-Romagna, a historical region in northern Italy that includes the cities of Modena, Bologna, and Parma. The surname also has a significant presence in Aosta Valley, an alpine region located in the northwest of Italy.
In the United Kingdom, the surname is largely concentrated in the South West of England, particularly in Gloucestershire, Somerset, Devon, and Cornwall.
In the United States, the surname is found mostly in the southern states like Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and North Carolina. It is also present in the midwest states like Indiana and Michigan.
There are also smaller numbers of people with the name Sale in Australia, Canada, France, and Germany.
Variations of the surname Sale
The surname Sale is an English surname of patronymic origin, meaning son of Sale. It is found in variations such as Sall, Salles, Sales, Sallis, Sael, and Sayles. It is an example of a patronymic surname, meaning it is derived from the given name Sael or Sale.
The variants of the surname Sale range from Sael, Sawle, Salle, Salus, to Sale; and the spellings include Saul, Sall, Saley, Sallis, Salles, Sayles, Salus, and Sales.
It is also a common spelling of Saul, a biblical name, and therefore, is occasionally used as a variant spelling of Saul in the Jewish community.
Some people with the surname Sale may also be descended from an Old Norse name, Sali, a variant of the personal name Sigurd.
For many centuries, regional dialects, illiteracy, and other factors have caused people's names to be spelt in a variety of ways. In some cases, a single individual could be more commonly known by a different spelling. In other cases, entire families could be recognised by a distinctive spelling of their surname. The variants of Sale demonstrate the many ways humans have adapted and adopted surnames over centuries.
There is evidence of the surname Sale stretching back as far as the 13th Century, when the family owned lands in the county of Gloucester. There is also a Coat of Arms registered with the surname, which is a shield with three red on gold scallops in the centre and a silver chevron in the top left, with two demi-lions rampant in the bottom right corner, separated by a demi-saxon griffin.
Famous people with the name Sale
- Robert Sale, American television actor.
- Colin Sale, English cricketer.
- Malcolm sale, British director, writer and theatre producer.
- Bill Sale, Canadian broadcaster.
- M. C. Sale, English major general.
- Colin Sale, Australian politician.
- Jonty Sale, British mountaineer.
- Dan Sale, Australian former professional soccer player.
- Belinda Sale, Australian professional golfer.
- Kenneth Sale, American actor and writer.
- John Sale, American sculptor and photographer.
- Sam Sale, English Barrister.
- Tim Sale, American comic book artist.
- Margaret Sale, English religious leader.
- Becky Sale, English professional golfer.