indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Type Surname (from occupation)
Usage French
Other Forms FormsSénéchal, Le Sénéchal, Sénéschal, Le Sénéschal, Sénégal, Sénécot, Sénécaut, Sénécaux, Seneschal
Meaning & History
status name for a seneschal an official in a large household who was responsible for overseeing day-to-day domestic arrangements from Old French seneschal (of ancient Germanic origin composed of the elements sini "old" and scalc "servant"). The seneschal of a royal or ducal household in the Middle Ages was a very powerful man indeed often having control over the administration of justice among other things.