This name, in its several variant forms which include Sail, Saile, Sailes (son of Saile), Sayle, Sale or Sales (son of Sale), is of Olde English origin (pre 7th Century) and denotes, "a dweller at the Sael", this being the local Manor House or Stronghold. The Normans after 1066 introduced the similar sounding and meaning "Salle" and it is quite impossible, now, to distinguish between the origins. One of the earliest emigrants to New England (Virginia Colony) was Richard Sailez who left on March 26th 1679. The name reordings include Aen Sayle, a lady who married Mychaell Baker at St. Stephans, Coleman Street, London in 1618, whilst on November 3rd 1667, Kathorine Saile, the daughter of John and Margaret was christened at St. Andrews Church, Holborn whilst one Henrie Sailes was recorded at Stepney Church on January 21st 1598. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Robert de la Sale, which was dated 1243, The Assize Court Rolls of Somerset, during the reign of King Henry III, "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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