Some historian say that Saeki (佐伯) was a compound of 佐 (meant to support) and 伯 (meant a noble person) for describing the clan's duty which was to support a noble person.
また、「佐伯」は「伯（尊い者）」を「佐（たすけ）る」という意味の当て字であろうとの説もある。