Surname Say - Meaning and Origin
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Say: What does the surname Say mean?
The last name SAY is of French origin and is derived from the Old French word “sai” meaning “scythe” or “harvesting tool.” The surname may have been used to indicate a person who had a job harvesting crops, and could also have served as an occupational nickname for a servant, or one who tended to the harvest.
An alternate origin of the SAY name may come from an Old French word meaning “to roll or turn,” possibly derived from the Latin word “serere” meaning “to join or bind.” This suggests that members of this last name could have been involved in some kind of turning professions such as carpentry or wheel-making.
Surnames like SAY were very common throughout Europe during the Middle Ages. It was used to help distinguish between individuals and could tell a lot about a person's profession, heritage, and even social class. In some cases, the names may have been used to demonstrate loyalty to a particular family, clan or group.
Today, the SAY surname is still very common around the world and can be found in multiple variations. The most common variations are Saye, Saey, Saeys, Sayas,Seay, Saeu, and Saies.
Order DNA origin analysisSay: Where does the name Say come from?
The origin of Say as a surname is England. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "sȳ", meaning "lake" or "lagoon" and was most likely a location name. The earliest known use of the name was found in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, where in 942 A.D. King Edmund of England granted the manor of Say to a Saxon nobleman named Wulferth.
The Say surname in England is still relatively popular today, with many Say families living in the West Midlands. In recent times, the surname has migrated to other parts of the U.K., the U.S.A., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries, where people of English or Irish descent have settled.
This reflects an increase in its popularity, due to the greater ease of mobility and higher rate of inter-marriage.
The Say surname is also common in the Netherlands, due to the country's close historical ties with England and the Dutch spelling of 'Sey'.
The Say family is historically associated with the Bere Regis Hundred in the county of Dorset. Today, there are still Say families living in the same area, as well as in the neighbouring county of Devon.
Say is a relatively uncommon surname in the rest of Europe, but it does appear as 'Saey' in Belgium, and is found to be spelt numerous ways in France.
Overall, the Say surname is most likely to be found in the U.K. and the countries colonised by England, such as the U.S.A., Canada, Australia and New Zealand. However, it is still possible to find it in other locations due to its association with the Bere Regis Hundred and the Netherlands.
Variations of the surname Say
The surname Say may be spelt in several ways, including Sai, Sae, Saey, Saye, Sey, etc. Originally coming from Old French, the surname Say is derived from the Latin word "sagius" meaning wise or sage.
The spelling of the surname Say also varies depending on the country of origin. For example, in England, it is usually spelt Say, while in Scotland it is often spelt Saey. In Wales, the spelling is usually Sey. In Ireland, the spelling is usually sai or saye. It may also be spelt on a regional basis, depending on the dialect in which it is pronounced.
Variants of the surname Say can also be found in other cultures. Saia is a common variation of the name found in Italy and Portugal, while Saai is a variant found in Dutch.
Other surnames of similar origin that can be derived from the surname Say include Sage, Sayce, and Saige. Some variants could also include Saieg, Saier, Saiers, and Seig.
The spelling variations of Say may be formed from other languages as well. For example, a Jewish variant of the surname could be Saiger. This is derived from the Yiddish word "zayger" which also means sage or wise.
In the United States, the surname Say could also take on additional surnames. For instance, it may be combined with other names, such as Sayles, Sayre, or Sayles. This could be a result of immigrations and marriages that happened in the 1800s and 1900s.
In conclusion, the surname Say has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. Depending on the country or region of origin, the surname can be spelt or combined to form a different surname name.
Famous people with the name Say
- David Say, British geologist and academic.
- Bennie Say, American baseball player.
- Margaret Say, English opera singer.
- Tom Say, American screenwriter.
- Leslie Say, British entertainment manager and songwriter.
- Jeff Say, American singer-songwriter and musician.
- Gwen Say, British Olympic figure skater.
- Aaron Say, American basketball player.
- Bernard Say, French painter.
- Lauren Say, Canadian playwright and director.
- Melissa Say, British broadcaster.
- Lisa Say, American children's book illustrator and author.
- Alistair Say, British journalist.
- Wayne Say, American football player.
- Jeffery Say, American politician.
- Lee Say, British actor.
- Shaun Say, American film director and father of Jeff Say.
- Felix Say, British film producer.
- Tony Say, South African television and film producer.
- Mervin Say, British environmental archaeologist.