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Irish surname

Sarsfield: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

de Sáirséil · Norman 'de Sarnesfeld' etc., 'of Sarnesfelde' (a place in Herefordshire named in Domesday Book)

Woulfe (1923) gives Sarsfield as the Norman name de Sáirséil, from 'de Sarnesfeld', i.e. of Sarnesfelde in Herefordshire, which he says is mentioned in Domesday Book as one of the King's manors. He says the family came into Ireland about the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion and settled in Dublin, Kildare, Cork and Limerick. He adds that the name owes its fame in Irish history to Patrick Sarsfield, Earl of Lucan.

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Coat of arms associated with the Sarsfield surname
Irish formde Sáirséil
MeaningNorman 'de Sarnesfeld' etc., 'of Sarnesfelde' (a place in Herefordshire named in Domesday Book)
CountiesDublin, Kildare, Cork, Limerick
Other spellings7
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Sarsfield crest gifts

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Origin of the Sarsfield name

Woulfe: a Norman name, 'of Sarnesfelde' in Herefordshire; it 'came into Ireland about the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion, when the family settled in Dublin, Kildare, Cork and Limerick.' He says he has 'failed to discover' the modern name of the Herefordshire place.[2]

  1. 1566Webb: William Sarsfield, Mayor of Dublin, knighted by Sir Henry Sidney (an ancestor of Patrick).[7]
  2. After the Boyne (1 July 1690)Webb: Patrick Sarsfield surprises King William's siege convoy at Ballyneety, some ten miles from Limerick.[7]
  3. After Aughrim (12 July 1691)Webb: Treaty of Limerick signed on 3 October; Sarsfield among the signatories.[7]
  4. 1693Webb: wounded at Landen on 19 July 1693; dies at Huy on 23 July of his wounds 'or rather of a fever consequent on them'.[7]
  5. 1890Matheson: 11 entries including spelling varieties (10 spelled Sarsfield): Connaught 5, Munster 4, Leinster 2.[5]

Where in Ireland

Co. DublinWoulfe: one of the places where the family settled.[2]
Co. KildareWoulfe: one of the places where the family settled.[2]
Co. CorkWoulfe: one of the places where the family settled.[2]
Co. LimerickWoulfe: one of the places where the family settled.[2]
Co. MayoWoulfe: Sainséil (a variant of Sáirséil) and Sáiséil (a corruption of Sáirséil) are in use in Co. Mayo.[1][3]

Notable people named Sarsfield

Patrick Sarsfield, Earl of Lucanwounded at Landen, 19 July 1693Webb: born at Lucan; Woulfe calls him the celebrated commander in the wars of the Revolution; died at Huy after his wound at Landen.[7][2]

Other spellings

de Sarsefield · Sáirséil · Sainséil · Sáiséil · Sarseil · Sausheil · Archfield[2]

The Sarsfield coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the Sarsfield surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

Sarsfield surname: questions

What does the surname Sarsfield mean?

Woulfe gives it as the Norman name 'de Sarnesfeld', i.e. of Sarnesfelde in Herefordshire, mentioned in Domesday Book as one of the King's manors.[2]

Is Sarsfield an Irish name?

Woulfe calls it Norman. He says it came into Ireland about the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion, when the family settled in Dublin, Kildare, Cork and Limerick.[2]

Who was Patrick Sarsfield?

Webb (1878) says Patrick Sarsfield, Earl of Lucan, was born at Lucan about the middle of the 17th century. During the siege of Limerick he surprised King William's siege convoy at Ballyneety, some ten miles from the city; he was among the signatories of the Treaty of Limerick; and he was wounded at the battle of Landen on 19 July 1693, dying at Huy on 23 July.[7]

How many Sarsfield births were there in Ireland in 1890?

Matheson counts 11 entries including spelling varieties (10 spelled Sarsfield): Connaught 5, Munster 4, Leinster 2.[5]

Sources

  1. Sainséil — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/s/sainseil.php
  2. de Sáirséil — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/d/de-sairseil.php
  3. Sáiséil — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/s/saiseil.php
  4. Sáirséil — Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/s/sairseil.php
  5. Sarsfield — Birth Indexes of 1890 — Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/sarsfield.php
  6. Sarsfield — Varieties and Synonymes of Surnames and Christian Names in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1901), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/varieties/list/1837.php
  7. Sarsfield, Patrick — A Compendium of Irish Biography (Alfred Webb, 1878), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/biography/PatrickSarsfield.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).