Surname Sauvage - Meaning and Origin
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Uncovering deep-rooted family threads and connecting with people sharing the same surname 'Sauvage', the journey with iGENEA DNA Test was nothing short of a fulfilling quest into the realms of ancient ancestry.
G. Sauvage
read moreSauvage: What does the surname Sauvage mean?
The surname "Sauvage" is of French origin and it translates to "wild" or "savage" in English. The name could have been given to someone with unruly or wild characteristics, or someone who lived in a wild or rustic area. Moreover, it could be associated with a person who was perceived as non-civilized or barbaric. It should be noted that the meanings and associations of surnames developed a long time ago under different social and cultural conditions. Many of these meanings do not hold in the modern world and should not be taken literally to label or judge people who hold these surnames today. We find different spelling variations of the same surname, like Savage in English. Originally, it could have been used as a nickname before becoming a hereditary surname and its usage has no relevance to the character of contemporary bearers of the name.
Order DNA origin analysisSauvage: Where does the name Sauvage come from?
The last name Sauvage is derived from the French language, and was historically used as a nickname to denote a wild or free-spirited person. Consequently, it has been common throughout the various countries that were either colonised by the French or have a high population of French descent.
Today, the last name Sauvage is most commonly found in France, especially in the north where some of its first bearers were La Sauvage. It is also quite popular in French-speaking Canada, where many French migrants settled in the 17th and 18th centuries. The last name is also quite common in Belgium, where most of the French-origin surnames were created. Furthermore, Sauvage is frequent in the United States, especially in the French-speaking states such as Louisiana, New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont. It is also one of the most common surnames in Haiti, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.
Overall, the last name Sauvage is still well-represented in many places worldwide, especially in French-speaking countries. People of this name are said to be courageous, independent and often ambitious, qualities which may have been an inspiration for its origin.
Variations of the surname Sauvage
The surname Sauvage is French in origin and can be spelled in several ways. Variants of this surname include Sauvag, Souvag, Sauvaj, Souvaj, Savaje, Souvage and Sauvaje. The surname Sauvage is a toponymic one, indicating someone who originally was from a place called Sauvage, which is a French word meaning wild or uncivilized.
The variation of the name Sauvage could also have derived from a person or family's wild or fierce character. The French word 'Sauvage' translates to the English word savage, another surname which has the same origin.
The full French spelling of the surname Sauvage is usually a result of immigration as many immigrants to America changed the spelling as part of the naturalization process in order to anglicise their name.
Surnames that are phonetically similar to Sauvage as a result of spelling variation, or have evolved from the same root word include Souvageau, Severge, Soverge, Sovergeau, Sovergne, Sourgnes, and Souvains.
In England, the spelling evolved into Savidge and Severidge. In Scotland, the spelling was changed to Souter while in Holland the surname was changed to Souer. All of these surnames can be traced as having the same origin as the French Sauvage.
Famous people with the name Sauvage
- Basile Sauvage (French lawyer and politician)
- Adrien Sauvage (French music producer, violinist, and composer)
- Aubert Sauvage (French Olympic fencer in 1948 and 1952)
- Xavier Sauvage (French footballer)
- Sébastien Sauvage (French ski mountaineer and mountain guide)
- Carole Sauvage (French actress)
- Frederic Sauvage (French comedian)
- Max Sauvage (French Olympic cyclist in 1928 and 1932)
- Jean Sauvage (French Olympic bobsledder in 1924 and 1928)
- Léonard Sauvage (Belgian Olympic fencer in 1928 and 1932)
- Jordan Sauvage (Paraguayan football player)
- David Sauvage (American musician and producer)
- Mathieu Sauvage (French basketball player)
- Yohan Sauvage (French tennis player)
- Connie Sauvage (Canadian actor and filmmaker)
- Elodie Sauvage (French swimmer who competed at the 2004 and 2008 Summer Olympics)
- Michelle Sauvage (Canadian singer, songwriter, and music producer)
- L'Kafka Sauvage (Canadian musician and rapper)
- Alfred Sauvage (French sculptor and painter)
- Jacques Sauvage (French Air Force Colonel who served during World War II)