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Notes about the surname SEAGO
There seems to be no definitive evidence about the origins of the surname SEAGO. However, there are a number of clues and theories - these are detailed below. It could be the case, that there is no single origin for the name - that the modern version of the name has evolved from several different origins.
The name SEAGO is comparatively rare. For instance, in the UK for the census years where national indexing is almost complete, we find there were only approximately 170 individuals in 1851, and 278 in 1881, with the name Seago or its variants.
RECORDED VARIANT SPELLINGS IN THE UK
The earliest records of the name found is SEGOES, in 1539 at Epping in Essex, but this was an isolated record for this village. The vast majority of the early references occur in the English counties of Suffolk and Norfolk (these date from the year 1559), although several occurrences appear in London - probably due to visits to the 'Big City'.
It is important to remember that few ordinary folk could read and write before schooling became more common in England after the mid-19th century. Therefore, the name was most often recorded and written by clergyman and officials, as they thought fit, after having heard the name spoken. We must also be aware that dialect and the regional development of language affect pronunciation. The country areas of Suffolk and Norfolk both had their regional dialects, which changed with time. Conformity of spelling would only settle down after the skills of reading and writing became more widespread. With this in mind, it is not surprising that family history records record a wide range of surname spelling variation. It is quite common to find within a single-family group, where relationship links appear sound, to find the surname recorded varying considerably over time and place.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name is variously recorded (in order of commonality) as SEGO, SEGOES, SEGOE, SEGOO and SIGGOE. Only on few occasions does the modern form SEAGO occur. There are few early references to the name outside of Suffolk and Norfolk, odd ones appearing in Somerset, Lincolnshire and London.
During the 18th century, the most common spelling is SEAGOE, with SEGAR and SAGO appearing more often. In the later half of the 18th century, the modern form SEAGO begins to appear more and more frequently.
By the 19th century, we find the spelling of a family surname becomes more frequently spelt with conformity - the spellings SEAGO, SEAGOE and SAGO predominate. A number of variant spellings appear irregularly within a family group. The names SAGER, SAGAR and SEAGER seem to have become distinct surnames by this time and continue until the present. The surnames SAGER/SAGAR seem to originate and occur most frequently in and around Burnley, Rochdale, Bradford (Manchester - Northern England).
Towards the end of the 19th century, the name is almost always recorded as SEAGO. Only one or two family groups continue to use the spelling SAGO and this is rare after 1900.
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION and STATUS IN THE UK
During the 16th and 17th centuries family groups are found for a few generations in localities seemingly widely dispersed and unconnected - mainly in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk... For example, in and around:
Later, during the 18th century, family groups become more widespread and are found in Norwich, Yarmouth, around South and North Repps, in south-east of Norfolk between Bergh Apton and Aldeby, and into Beccles, Suffolk. A few family groups also appear in London, in Surrey and one in Shropshire.
From the 19th century, most Seago's are still found in Norfolk/Suffolk, but family groups start to appear more frequently in other counties. In Lancashire from 1800; in Northamptonshire from 1840; in Northumberland from 1870; in Durham and Kent from 1880; in London (the East-End, Greenwich and Lewisham) from early 1800; etc. etc.
From the 1700's, most records show SEAGO's to be agricultural labourers working on the land or engaged in trades if living in towns (as fishmongers, shoemakers, blacksmithing, etc). Most were relatively poor, only a few appear to have been wealthy - these include: a few farmers in Bergh Apton and South Repps (NFK), some families involved in fishing in Yarmouth, and a family of solicitors in Lowestoft (SFK).
Increasingly during the 19th century, some family groups moved to London (Mile End/Shoreditch and Greenwich areas), others appear in North Kent (Chatham) and in North-eastern coastal towns like Hartlepool and North Shields. Isolated families also appeared in Birmingham, Peterborough, Sheffield and Sibbertoft (NTH). After 1900, the surname SEAGO is found widely distributed in many areas England.
SEAGO's OVERSEAS
Some SEAGO's have left the shores of Britain for the USA, Australia and New Zealand. We have little real information about the exact dates or the circumstances of early immigration (17th to 19th centuries). A few SEAGO's were transported for crimes (see the end of the Seago Misc. pages for some examples).
IGI Records in the USA show that Seago/Sego families were present in various Eastern states as early as the mid-18th century. However, we have no evidence as yet of how they came to arrive in the USA.
There is a parish in Northern Ireland, on the edge of Portadown, called SEAGOE, but it does not seem that this place is the home of any persons called SEAGO(e). Martha Seagoe, in the USA (Seagoe@sbcc.net ) has reported on some research she carried out, where it was found the Irish Parish name Seagoe derives from the old Irish Gaelic 'Suidhe-gobha' [Seegow].
THE ORIGINS OF THE NAME SEAGO
There are a number of possible theories, none of which are supported by convincing proof. Some are more plausible than others.....
The most plausible.... and the most difficult to prove!......goes like this..... 'The name Seago derives from unfortunate Spanish seamen with the name 'Sego/Segovia' (or similar) who were struggled ashore half drowned from wrecked ships of the Spanish Armada that were driven up the North Sea of England during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I in 1588. These poor Spanish seamen were assimilated into the population of East Anglia'. Sounds good and the dates fit, but where is the proof?
The name could also have been possibly derived from a tendency to name persons because of their trade or occupation. Hence 'Sea Go' - the man who goes to sea...... there were mariners and fishermen amongst the SEAGO's of Great Yarmouth and other East Anglia coastal towns.......
In the book 'The Perlustration of Great Yarmouth' by Charles John Palmer FSA published in 1874 (page 234), Palmer tells us 'The name of Seagoe is probably Scandinavian. It has been of long continuance. Samuel Seagoe voted at the Norfolk election in 1714 for Astley and De Gray. His wife died in 1724, aged 28. William Seagoe voted at the same election for the same candidates. His wife died in 1733, aged 49.......',etc. Palmer does not explain his theory or give supporting evidence.
Brian Seago (in USA) reports, that research carried out by French genealogist called Leonardo Andrea in the early part of the 20th century, suggests the name may have origins in Alsance-Lorraine area of France - where it was spelt Seagore and Segore. No supporting evidence is available.
The current conclusion: Since there is no definite evidence of origins from any country other than England and from the numerous recorded variant spellings in the 16th and 17th centuries in East Anglia (Norfolk and Suffolk) - it is most likely that the modern name SEAGO has its origins in a number of 'old English' name variants which coalesced slowly into the modern form during the 18th and 19th centuries.
This train of thought raises the obvious question, 'When and where did the English 16th and 17th century variant names Sago, Sego, Siggoe, etc. arise?' There are numerous record sources in the UK that date back to the 12th century, but we need a Latin/old-English language scholar to delve into these.
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SAGO - Origins in Europe? If one visits the USA Ellis Island site ( at www.ellisislandrecords.org ) you will find a searchable database for passengers aliighting there from around the world about the turn of the 20th century. If you search for the name SAGO, you will find fifty or more records of Sago's arriving as passengers between 1897 and 1920. Their most common places of normal residence or origin is given Hungary, Austria, Italy, Spain and even Argentina. None are listed as coming from the UK! It appears at first glance that the name SAGO might have other distinct origins in central Europe, seemingly completely separate from the UK Sago's of the 19th century residing in the Suffolk/Norfolk borders. Comments?..................