Sackett (surname)
Encyclopedia
Sackett is an English surname originating in the Isle of Thanet
, Kent, probably at Sackett's Hill in the parish of St Peter in Thanet (now Broadstairs and St Peter's
). The earliest record of the name dates from 1317 when William Saket of Southborough, St Peter in Thanet, was in a legal dispute with the Abbot of St Augustine
, Canterbury.
The Sacketts were among the first colonists of America
, with Simon Sackett arriving at the Massachusetts Bay Colony
a few months after the Winthrop Fleet
of 1630, and John Sackett, possibly a nephew of Simon, arriving at the New Haven Colony
sometime before 1641.
The word "sacket" has two dictionary definitions: a bag; and a term of reproach or abuse.
None of these possible derivations of the surname is likely. Any would have resulted in the name arising independently in different places; but such is the concentration of the name in early records in a small area of Thanet that it may be supposed that the name originated in a single family. Certainly, the surname, first found in 1317, is seen to predate the earliest recorded use (c1440) of the word "sakett" meaning a bag.
Sacketts in the UK number just under 500, giving a frequency of 9 per million, and a surname ranking of 11,423.
There are about 5,500 Sacketts in the USA, a frequency of 20 per million, and a ranking of 5,759.
Australia has about 70 residents with the name, which is ranked 19,192, with a frequency of 4 per million.
chose the name Sackett for the central characters in a series of novels after finding Sackett's Well in California.
Isle of Thanet
The Isle of Thanet lies at the most easterly point of Kent, England. While in the past it was separated from the mainland by the nearly -wide River Wantsum, it is no longer an island ....
, Kent, probably at Sackett's Hill in the parish of St Peter in Thanet (now Broadstairs and St Peter's
Broadstairs and St Peter's
Broadstairs and St Peter's is a civil parish in the Thanet district of Kent, England. The parish comprises the settlements of Broadstairs, St Peters and Westwood, including Westwood Cross. It is a successor parish, created in 1974 to replace Broadstairs and St Peter's Urban District. It is governed...
). The earliest record of the name dates from 1317 when William Saket of Southborough, St Peter in Thanet, was in a legal dispute with the Abbot of St Augustine
St Augustine's Abbey
St Augustine's Abbey was a Benedictine abbey in Canterbury, Kent, England.-Early history:In 597 Saint Augustine arrived in England, having been sent by Pope Gregory I, on what might nowadays be called a revival mission. The King of Kent at this time was Æthelberht, who happened to be married to a...
, Canterbury.
The Sacketts were among the first colonists of America
British colonization of the Americas
British colonization of the Americas began in 1607 in Jamestown, Virginia and reached its peak when colonies had been established throughout the Americas...
, with Simon Sackett arriving at the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Massachusetts Bay Colony
The Massachusetts Bay Colony was an English settlement on the east coast of North America in the 17th century, in New England, situated around the present-day cities of Salem and Boston. The territory administered by the colony included much of present-day central New England, including portions...
a few months after the Winthrop Fleet
Winthrop Fleet
The Winthrop Fleet was a group of eleven sailing ships under the leadership of John Winthrop that carried approximately 700 Puritans plus livestock and provisions from England to New England over the summer of 1630.-Motivation:...
of 1630, and John Sackett, possibly a nephew of Simon, arriving at the New Haven Colony
New Haven Colony
The New Haven Colony was an English colonial venture in present-day Connecticut in North America from 1637 to 1662.- Quinnipiac Colony :A Puritan minister named John Davenport led his flock from exile in the Netherlands back to England and finally to America in the spring of 1637...
sometime before 1641.
Variants
Early variants were Sakt and Saket. Later records are of Sacket, Sackett, Sackette. The only extant forms are Sacket and Sackett, with Sackett predominating.Origin of the surname
Several derivations of the surname Sackett have been proposed:- descent from Adam le Sackere, a "sacker" and exporter of wool, whose ancestors came to England with William the Conqueror;
- Roman archers, from the Latin Sagittarius, an arrow;
- manufacturer of sacks, being a diminutive of either Old English sacc or Norse-Viking Sekkr;
- an "adversary", from French Sacquet and Old German Sacco, meaning to dispute, strive, blame;
- a "cottager by the sea", the early form "Saket" meaning "sea", then pronounced "say", and "cot", on the analogy of Beckett, "bee" and "cot" indicating a cottager who kept bees.
The word "sacket" has two dictionary definitions: a bag; and a term of reproach or abuse.
None of these possible derivations of the surname is likely. Any would have resulted in the name arising independently in different places; but such is the concentration of the name in early records in a small area of Thanet that it may be supposed that the name originated in a single family. Certainly, the surname, first found in 1317, is seen to predate the earliest recorded use (c1440) of the word "sakett" meaning a bag.
Notable Sacketts
- Nathaniel Sackett (1737–1805) was George WashingtonGeorge WashingtonGeorge Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's spymaster during the American Revolutionary WarAmerican Revolutionary WarThe American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. - Augustus Sacket (1769–1827) founded the village of Sackets Harbor, Lake Ontario, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. - Hon William Augustus SackettWilliam A. SackettWilliam Augustus Sackett was a U.S. Representative from New York.-Biography:Born in Aurelius, near Auburn, New York, Sackett attended private schools and Aurora Academy.He moved to Seneca Falls, New York, in 1831....
(1811–1895) was a U.S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. - General Delos Bennet SacketDelos Bennett SackettDelos Bennett Sackett was a career officer in the United States Army, and served in the American Civil War as a general in the Union Army. He was a postbellum Senior Inspector General of the Army.-Early life and career:...
(1822–1885) was a commander in the American Civil WarAmerican Civil WarThe American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and became Inspector GeneralInspector GeneralAn Inspector General is an investigative official in a civil or military organization. The plural of the term is Inspectors General.-Bangladesh:...
of the United States ArmyUnited States ArmyThe United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
. - Frederic Mosley Sackett (1868–1941) was US Ambassador to Germany during the collapse of the Weimar RepublicWeimar RepublicThe Weimar Republic is the name given by historians to the parliamentary republic established in 1919 in Germany to replace the imperial form of government...
and Hitler's rise to power. - Julia Sanderson (née Sackett)Julia SandersonJulia Sanderson was an actress and singer. Her father, Albert Sackett, was also a Broadway star. She was born August 20, 1888, in Springfield, Massachusetts. She appeared in the Forepaugh Circus as a child and in her early teen years with her father. She then moved to Broadway, where she appeared...
, (1888–1975) was a singer and actress who achieved stardom in both New York and London. - Albert M. Sackett (1920- ), Rear Admiral, US Navy, fought in three wars (World War II, Korea and Vietnam) and served 40 years of active duty.
- David Lawrence SackettDavid SackettDavid Lawrence Sackett, OC, FRSC is a Canadian medical doctor and a pioneer in evidence-based medicine. He founded the first department of clinical epidemiology in Canada at McMaster University, and the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine...
, OC, FRSC (1934– ) is a Canadian medical doctor and a pioneer in evidence-based medicine. - Susan SackettSusan SackettSusan Sackett is an American author and screenwriter, best known for her involvement in the Star Trek franchise.-Biography:Susan Sackett was born in New York City on December 18, 1943, raised in Connecticut and moved to Florida after graduating from Hillhouse High School in New Haven...
(1943– ) is an American author and screenwriter, best known for her involvement in the Star Trek franchise. - Penny SackettPenny SackettPenny Diane Sackett is an American-born Australian astronomer and former director of the Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the Australian National University...
(1956– ) is an astronomer and Chief Scientist of Australia.
Distribution of the name
Although the name originated in England, there are now many more Sacketts in the United States. The great majority of these are in the line of Simon Sackett the colonist (1595–1635).Sacketts in the UK number just under 500, giving a frequency of 9 per million, and a surname ranking of 11,423.
There are about 5,500 Sacketts in the USA, a frequency of 20 per million, and a ranking of 5,759.
Australia has about 70 residents with the name, which is ranked 19,192, with a frequency of 4 per million.
Sackett places
- Sackett's Hill, St Peter in Thanet, Kent, "so called from its being the estate of an ancient yeomanry family of this name".
- Sackets Harbor, New York
- Sackett's Wells, California
- Sackett LakeSackett LakeSackett Lake refers to both a lake in Thompson, New York and the small community that revolves around the lake. It is approximately 4 miles from Monticello, the county seat of Sullivan County....
, New York
Fictional characters
The author Louis L'AmourLouis L'Amour
Louis Dearborn L'Amour was an American author. His books consisted primarily of Western fiction novels , however he also wrote historical fiction , science fiction , nonfiction , as well as poetry and short-story collections. Many of his stories were made into movies...
chose the name Sackett for the central characters in a series of novels after finding Sackett's Well in California.