Surname Saults - Meaning and Origin
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Saults: What does the surname Saults mean?
The surname Saults is of French origin, derived from "saut" or "sault", meaning "leap" or "jump". It was typically used as an occupational name for a person who operated a gate or barrier, similar to a toll collector. In geographical context, it was also used to describe a person who lived near a waterfall, rapid, or some sort of water jump, as "sault" is also used in French to describe these natural features. Additionally, it was sometimes given to individuals who lived near a watermill which utilized a waterfall or rapid for its operation. Like many surnames, variations like Sault, Saute, or Saulters exist, reflecting the impact of regional dialects and translation. However, as surnames can evolve significantly over centuries and can be influenced by various factors such as migration and localization, the exact meaning or origin of the last name Saults may differ significantly across different families carrying this surname.
Order DNA origin analysisSaults: Where does the name Saults come from?
The last name Saults is commonly found in the United States and Canada, but also in France, Portugal, Spain, and various African countries. In the United States, people named Saults overwhelmingly are concentrated in the southern states, specifically Texas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
In the US, Saults family members tend to have a long history. Records of the surname Saults date back to the American Revolution in South Carolina and Georgia. Modern day Saults family members also have roots in the 18th century plantation and cotton culture of the south.
Saultens and Sauts are also common variations of the Saults surname. Many Saults families are proud to trace their roots back through the early generations of the antebellum south. Saults family members are still scattered about in the original states, with some having moved to northern states over the years.
Thanks to internet genealogy databases, Saults family members all over the world have been able to trace their ancestors. Descendants of the Saults family are still actively working to uncover the migration stories and keep records to preserve the Saults family legacy for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Saults
The surname Saults is a variation of the French surname Sault or Saulx. It is derived from the Old French nickname Solt, which means "balm, essence; soldier; brave". Other variants of the surname include Saultz, Savlt, Sales, Sauls, Saulx, Sallt, Sawlz, and Sawlt.
The Sault variant of the surname is particularly common throughout Canada, with surnames with the spelling variant Sault being the 17th most common surname in the province of Quebec. In France, people often use the spelling Saulx or Sauls for the surname.
Saults is also a variant spelling of the English surname Selleck, which is derived from the Old English personal name Seli or Saeli. The Selleck variant appeared as far back as the 12th century, with records of a William Selleck appearing in the Pipe Rolls of 1194.
The surname Saults may also be a form of the ancient European surname Sauter, which is derived from the Middle High German word sautƶer, meaning "salt-worker". Members of this family were involved in the salt production and trading business. In the 13th century, members of the family were knighted in Germany, and by the 17th century, members of the Sauter family had spread to England, with names appearing in the records of Gloucestershire.
Finally, Saults may also be a variant of the Dutch surnames either Salts or Saltz, both of which are derived from the Middle Dutch name Sall or Salte, which was most likely originally derived from the occupational name for a salt farm worker. Records of the name Sall or Salts can be found in the city archives of Hoogkarspel, Netherlands, going as far back as the 16th century.
Famous people with the name Saults
- Tray Saults: an American entrepreneur who owns several fast-food franchises in his home state of Texas.
- Neal Saults: an American actor known for his roles on the TV series The Wire and Sin City.
- David Saults: a pop singer and actor from Canada, best known for his role as a backing vocalist in Taylor Swift's Red album.
- Sam Saults: a professional basketball player who played for the Miami Heat from 2007-2010.
- John Saults: an American chef who has been featured in a variety of cooking shows such as Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay.
- PJ Saults: a Canadian country singer who has released two albums and has toured with popular acts such as Keith Urban and Kenny Chesney.
- Marisa Saults: an American artist and children's book illustrator. Her work includes the book Little Bird's Big Adventure.
- Katy Saults: an American model who has appeared in campaigns for brands such as Maybelline, L'Oréal, and Smashbox.
- Steve Saults: an English bassist who has worked with the bands Oasis and Pulp.
- Kristina Saults: a Grammy nominated jazz musician whose debut album was nominated for Best Instrumental Jazz Album in 2017.