The Quincy (also spelt Quency) family may have derived its name from Cuinchy, Pas-de-Calais, on the border between the counties of Artois and Flanders. Saher de Quincy (died [1156/58]) is first recorded in the 1120s in England. He evidently soon rose to prominence, judging by his marriage to Matilda de Senlis of the family of the earls of Huntingdon. The origin of the family is unknown. The key may lie in the unusual first name "Saher". The name is recorded in the Cambrai area in the early 11th century: the Gesta Episcoporum Cameracensium states that, after the death of Herluin Bishop of Cambrai, “Seiherum fratrem [eius]” [Saher] was sent to the emperor to protest about the invasion of episcopal territory by “Walterus [castellanus]”. No other information has been found which indicates the origin of the brothers Saher and Herluin... A couple of possibilities regarding the etymology of the name Saher can be suggested. There is some similarity to the Portuguese or Galician "Soeiro", numerous references to which are found among the Portuguese nobility from the late 11th/early 12th centuries. Alternatively, a connection with the Near East is possible: "saher" means "dawn" in modern Arabic, and "Saher" is one of the Jewish surnames listed by Zubatsky & Berent. 1
He held land at Long Buckley, Northamptonshire in [1124/29]. “Seherus de Quinci” donated property to Dunmow Priory, for the soul of “Saheri filii mei”, by undated charter witnessed by “Richardus, et Quincy…”.
His date of death is indicated by the 1157 Pipe Roll which records "Sahero de Quenci" in Northamptonshire under "Nova Placita & Noue Conuentiones", presumably referring to his son who had newly inherited his father´s lands. 2
Research Notes: