Gender | Male |
---|---|
Origin | |
Word/name | Old French and Middle English |
Meaning | Soldier (servant of the law), or Protector [1] |
Region of origin | Britain |
Other names | |
Related names | Sargeant, Sergius, Sergeant |
Sargent is a surname of Latin (possibly Etruscan), early medieval English and Old French origin, and has also been used as a given name. [2]
The surname of Sargent in the various ways in which it is spelled is said to have come from the Latin phrase, "servientes armorum" (men discharging a military service) and therefore, soldiers [ Sergeant] ("Serjens d'Armes"); and "Serjiant of the Law" [ Serjeant-at-law] ("Serviens ad Legem") was also a term in very early use. The English translation of Serviens into Sargent did not appear until the reign of Henry III or Edward I. [3] [4] [5] Today, the surname has many variant spellings ranging from Sargant, Sargeant and Seargeant to Sergant, Searjeant and Sergeaunt. [6]
Notable people with the name include: