Meaning and origin
The last name Samuel is of Hebrew origin, derived from the given name Samuel or Shmuel, which means "heard of God" or "name of God" in Hebrew. The name and subsequently the surname Samuel spread throughout the world due to Jewish migration and cultural exchanges, making it a common surname among people of Jewish heritage as well as others.
The longer story
The last name "Samuel" has its origins in the Hebrew language. The usage of the name Samuel as a surname can be traced back to the Middle Ages.
Like many other surnames, the name Samuel has undergone variations over time and across different regions. Variants of the surname include Samuels, Samuelsen, Samuelszoon, and Samuelson. The varied spellings and forms of the name can be attributed to the evolution of language, migration, and the influence of local dialects and accents.
The surname Samuel is found in various countries around the world, including England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, and the United States. In England, the name is most commonly found in the southeastern counties, particularly in London and Kent. It is also prevalent in Scotland, with concentrations in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and other major cities.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
#1,558
Samuel was the 1,558th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 23,125 people, about 7.5 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Samuel
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Samuel is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.