As a descendant of Joseph Sagittary (or Sagittery) Strange (my g/grandfather, b. Dorset 1828), I respectfully submit a long-winded exploration of his unusual middle name:
The earliest record of the term ’Sagittary’ appears in Shakespeare’s Othello, where the name is much debated by scholars but arguably refers to a street in Venice known as the vicus Sagittarius where arrows were made, and which was associated with the Venetian fleet. Shakespeare also quotes ‘The dreadful Sagittary’ in Troilus and Cressida, with apparent reference to storms at sea from November to December under the zodiacal constellation of the Archer. (ref. Noemi Magri: ‘Othello’s house on the Sagittary’ in De Vere Society Newsletter, February 2010).
The scholarly conclusion is that Shakespeare‘s ‘Sagittary’ was an English rendering of the Latin Sagittarius, the English version also being used by Sir Isaac Newton in his ’Chronology’ (1727).
Coming now to personal names*, the earliest record I have is of one Jahannis or Jahans Sagittary, father of two daughters born in Stockholm, Sweden, 1678 and 1680. The surname is clearly English, possibly adopted by a marine navigator familiar with the stars and constellations.
Back in England:
1713: Frances, d. of Daniel Sagittary & Ann, chr. Winterbourne Steepleton, Dorset.
1722: John Sagittary m. Repentance Burge, Marnhull, Dorset. (John Sagittary, b. 1697, buried St Mary le Strand Middx. 1777).
1736: Frances Sagittary (1713, above) m. William Champ, Winterbourne Steepleton.
1737: William Daniel, s. of William Champ & Frances, chr. Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset.
1767: Elizabeth, d. of William Champ Jr & Ann, chr. Winterbourne Steepleton.
1769: Sagittary, s. of William Champ Jr & Ann, chr. Winterbourne Steepleton. (Sagittary Champ buried Milton Abbas, Dorset 1830, age 60; no marriage record. 1836: son? Sagittary Champ m. Jannet Taylor, Southwark).
1774: Joseph Sagittary Champ, s. of William Daniel Champ & Margaret (née Paul), b. Whitchurch Canonicorum (chr. 1777).
1797: Elizabeth Champ (1767, above), m. John Davis, Milton Abbas.
1797: William Sagittary Davis, s. of John Davis & Elizabeth, chr. Dewlish, Dorset.
1826: Sagittary Biles, s. of Charles Biles & Anne, chr. Milborne St Andrew. Dorset.
1828: Robert Biles, s. of John Biles & Elizabeth, m. Anne Strange, Milborne St Andrew. (Ann, sister of Joseph Strange?).
1828: Joseph (Sagittery) Strange, s. of Joseph Strange & Mary (née Drake), chr. Hazelbury Bryan, Dorset, 17 Oct.
*All family sources: familysearch.org and opcdorset.org
In summary, the possibly unique ‘Sagittary’ surname became a forename as it passed through the Dorset familes of Sagittary, Champ, Davis, Biles and Strange. For my ancestor Joseph Strange the additional name ‘Sagittery’ (as spelt in his Probate record) was apparently an afterthought, given some time after his christening in 1828.
I would happy to share information or compare notes on the paternal ancestors of Joseph Sagittery Strange; please PM if you’re interested.
Mike North