The Rev Patrick Woulfe's Sloinnte Gaedhael is Gall gives de Sairseil as the Irish of the Norman name Sarsfield, meaning "of Sarnesfelde", a place in Herefordshire. A fiant of 1579 has Churchefeldstown where Sarsfieldstown (Co Meath) was intended. `This surname came into Ireland about the time of the Anglo-Norman invasion, when the family settled in Dublin, Kildare, Cork and Limerick.' It is not listed in The Penguin Dictionary of Surnames, apparently it is no longer extant in England.
"The first record of the name in Ireland is Williemus de Sharisfeld who appears in the Pipe Roll of Cloyne (Co Cork) in 1252, though it is claimed that Thomas de Sarsefeld, chief standard-bearer to King Henry 11, was in Ireland in 1172" (Edward Mac Lysaght's Irish Families). They obtained grants of land in Co Cork in 1300 if not earlier, and the Calendar of the Justiciary Rolls (1308-1314) notes Stephen de Saresfeld at a 1311 hearing in Cork, and again at Cork the same year Robert de Saresfeld was among "the notables now in this town . . . who were admitted to make fine for all trespasses". Hearings at Kildare in 1310 noted William de Saresfeld's plea of trespass, and William de Saresfeld listing among felons of the King charged with divers robberies, and later was among those charged with a killing. They were pardoned on condition that they go to Scotland to the King's war.
Earlier than the Cloyne Pipe Roll was Willelmus de Cernesfeld/de Sernesfeld in a document c. 1200 in The Register of the Hospital of S. John the Baptist. That same year Adam de Sernefeld was witness to a charters regarding the grange of Athfad, Clonbrogan and Coyllacht, all in Munster; among the witnesses to a charter regarding the Monastery of St Bridget, Ashtown, Co Dublin, c. 1210, was Adam de Sernesfeld; in 1220 Johanne de Sernesfeld was among the witnesses relating to "iii acris terre de Alessunthric cum nove gardino", and "terra que vacatur Hereghin". This latter place was in Castleknock, Co Dublin. Johanne de Sarnisfeld was among the witnesses to a document of c. 1250 concerning "iii acris arabilis & i de acra prati" at Knockmark, Co Meath. That same year, Robert de Sarnesfeld witnessed "Carta William Pippard of Peppardston" (Co Meath).
Calendar of the Gormanston Register notes Adam de Saresfelde among the witnesses of a 1327 document regarding 10 acres at Richardston in the tenement of Moymurty, and two Quit-claims of 1357, in which Richard Sarsfeld, lord of Sarsfeldstown, had for ever released all right to the Richardstown land. Robert Saresfeld of Mora and John Saresfeld of Lakenhale were among the witnesses to both. In 1341, John Saresfeld witnessed a quit-claim concerning 16 acres and one stang in Mynnisetoun, and in 1346 John, son of Geoffrey Saresfeld, witnessed a land grant at Staghmeen. Thomas Saresfeld was appointed attorney regarding land at Rogerston in 1366; Richard and Hugh Saresfeld were names attorneys concerning land in Slane in a Letter of Attorney dated 1373, and Hugh Saresfeld was among those granted land in "the manor of the Nynche" in 1382.
This surname is listed 53 times in the Irish Fiants of the Tudor Sovereigns (15211603) between the years 1559 to 1603. The earliest mention is the granting of a license to Patrick Sarsfield and others, to trade with French or Bretons, and to import wine, salt, iron, and Kyntelageum (Kentledge, pig-iron used as permanent ballast) to the ports of Wexford, Dublin, Drogheda, and Dundalk. There were Sarsfields of Tully, Surnings, Bagotrath, Croagh, Lucan, Kilpatrick, and Uniegar. Sir William Sarsfield of Lucan, was major of Dublin in 1567, and sheriff of Co Dublin in 1572. In 1577 he was involved with forming certain lands "into one county or shire to be called the county of Wicklowe". However most of the mentions were to pardons. James Sarsfield was major of Cork in 1599.
A Co Clare Sarsfield of 1700 bore the nickname "Circumslabberous", but there is no doubt that the best-known bearer of the name was Patrick Sarsfield (16501693). The highlights of his distinguished military career were the destruction of the Williamite siege train at Ballyneety, the defence of Limerick, and his death from wounds at Landen. In 1876, Bingham Sarsfield and Dominick Sarsfield, Cork, had 266 acres and 296 Co,. Cork acres respectively. There are nine Sarsfield telephone entries north of the Border, and of the 33 to its south 12 are in the 04 area reaching from Co Monaghan to Co Wicklow.
"There is no doubt that the best-known bearer of the name was Patrick Sarsfield (1650-1693). The highlights of his distinguished military career were the destruction of the Williamite siege train at Ballyneety, the defence of Limerick, and his death from wounds at Landen"