Surname Sargeant - Meaning and Origin
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Sargeant: What does the surname Sargeant mean?
The surname Sargeant is of English and French origin, derived from the Middle English term "sergeant". It was originally a occupational name, referring to a servant or attendant, specifically one who served a noble or an officer of justice. In a military context, it represented a rank in medieval armies. In the Anglo-Norman system of social hierarchy, a sergeant was someone who held land from a superior in return for a stated military service. Therefore, the surname could have patronymic roots in this rank or role in society. Variations of the surname include Sergeant, Sargent, and Sergent, among others. Like most surnames, specific meaning can vary or evolve based on the family history and cultural context. The surname is not overly common, but it is most prevalent in the United States, with a significant presence in England as well. Overall, the surname Sargeant denotes a history of military service, servitude, or a legal official role in its bearers' lineage.
Order DNA origin analysisSargeant: Where does the name Sargeant come from?
The last name Sargeant is most common nowadays in the United States. According to the website Kindreds, the surname Sargeant ranks as the 547th most common surname in the United States, with an estimated 43,900 people bearing the name. In England, according to the same source, it ranks as the 246th most common name, with approximately 23,000 people identified as having the surname.
The World Names Profiler tool identifies Canada, England, the United States, Wales, and Australia as being the top 5 countries in which the name is most common. It is often thought of as an American-based surname, with the popularity likely due to the large number of people coming to America from England, Ireland, and Scotland in the early 19th century. A popular spelling variant of the word is Sergeant, which is less common than other variations.
The surname is a occupational surname, typically derived from either a sergeant of arms, a court officer, or a soldier. As such, many people bearing this name likely have ancestral connections to the military, dating back to the Middle Ages and earlier. Furthermore, it is possible that many people who originated from other countries, and had the same last name, anglicised their name upon coming to America.
Overall, the surname Sargeant is most popular in the United States and England and has its roots in military titles, making it likely that many people around the world with this name have ancestral military connections.
Variations of the surname Sargeant
The surname Sargeant is derived from the medieval English word ‘sergeant’, meaning an official in charge of an army unit or the law. Due to its long history, there are multiple variants and spellings of this surname, with the most common being Sergeant and Sargent.
The most common spelling variants for Sergeant include Serjent, Seargant, Sergant, Sargint, Sargen, Sargaunt, Seargeant, Sergent, Sargent, and Sargant. Additionally, there are variants of the name in other languages such as French (Sergeant), Italian (Sergente), German (Sargant), Dutch (Sergeant), Danish (Sergeant) and Spanish (Sergeant).
The names Sargood, Sharwood, and Sharratt are also surnames with the same origin as Sergeant. These variants originate from the Old English meaning ‘sarp’ which is derived from the Old Norse ‘saup’, meaning shield-bearer.
Other variations of the name include Sarjeant, Sharpe, Sharratt, Sharman, Sargent, Sarginson, Sargeant, Sarjant, Serjeant, Sergeant, Sargeant, Sarjeant, Sharpe, and Serjent, to name a few.
In conclusion, there are numerous variants of the surname Sergeant, and its spellings and surnames of similar origin, however the most common is Sergeant and Sargent.
Famous people with the name Sargeant
- Jeffrey Sargeant, British Army general and Chief of the Defence Staff
- Reginald Sargeant, English professional footballer
- John Sargeant, Canadian television personality
- Thomas Sargeant, British army brigadier and Victoria Cross recipient
- Ralf Sargeant, British Army colonel
- Gary Sargeant, English former professional footballer
- Mary Sargeant, British academic director
- Edmund Sargeant, Canadian politician
- Harry Sargeant, American business magnate
- Will Sargeant, English professional footballer