Surname Sampson - Meaning and Origin
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Unexpected Origins and Rich History: My Surprising Ancestral Journey Through an iGENEA DNA Test
Through an exciting journey of personal discovery, my iGENEA DNA test has shed light on unexpected connections to Western European and Scandinavian regions, along with a fascinating history associated with my surname: Sampson.
U. Sampson
read moreSampson: What does the surname Sampson mean?
The surname Sampson is derived from the biblical name Samson, which is of Hebrew origin. Samson was a biblical figure known for his exceptional strength, given to him by God. The name means "sun" or "service"; there is a suggestion of "man of the sun" or "man of service".
The name became popular in England in the 12th century due its frequent usage among the Normans. The last name Sampson is considered to be a patronymic surname, meaning it is based on the name of a male ancestor. Over centuries, it evolved into various forms such as Samson, Sansom, and Sampson in English-speaking regions.
In general, the adoption of biblical first names as surnames reflects the religious influence and traditions of the period and location. In the case of Sampson, it may infer the qualities of strength and service indicated by its original meaning.
As with many surnames, geographical distribution and usage of Sampson has varied over time and place, leading to the existence of many versions of this surname in different parts of the world.
Order DNA origin analysisSampson: Where does the name Sampson come from?
The last name Sampson is a popular surname in the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada. It is widely spread throughout the English-speaking world.
In the United States, Sampson is the 242nd most populous last name. It is most common in the state of Virginia where it ranks 70th in terms of frequency. It is also found in large numbers in other states, including North Carolina (191st), Georgia (174th), Arkansas (245th), and Tennessee (231st).
In the United Kingdom, Sampson is the 302nd most popular last name. It is especially common in the West Midlands region of England, where it ranks 27th. It is also found in other places such as London (104th), Yorkshire (213th), and Essex (307th).
In Canada, the Sampson surname is the 233rd most populous last name. It is found primarily in the province of Ontario, where it ranks 135th, and is also present in British Columbia (212th) and Alberta (204th).
Overall, the last name Sampson is quite common today, appearing in many countries and regions throughout the English-speaking world.
Variations of the surname Sampson
The surname Sampson is derived from the Hebrew biblical name Simson. The literal translation of the Hebrew name is by Sun. It has been popularly used all over the world, as an English, French, German, and Hebrew surname.
Variations of the surname Sampson include Sampsin, Sampsen, Sampson, Sambson, Simson, Zempson, Samzon, and Sempson.
The French spelling of the Sampson surname is Sanson.
In Germany, the spelling of Sampson is Samson.
Jewish surnames of a similar origin include Shimon (original Hebrew spelling) and Semitic languages such as Arabic, where the surname is Ṣamso.
In Italian, the surname language spelling is Sansone.
In Spain, it is spelt Sanz.
In Portuguese it is Troynes.
Variants of the surname in Ireland are MacSamhain and Sampayo.
In Scotland, the surname is spelled Sampsonne.
In Wales, the surname spelling is Samshon, or Samsonian.
Variants in the US include Samoson, Samsoe, Scammon, and Scammons.
The surname Sampson is traditionally an Anglicized or shortened version of the Hebrew biblical name. The English spelling can be traced back to the Middle Ages, when the Old Testament was first translated into English. Variants of the surname are found all over the world, and in various languages the surname is spelled differently.
Famous people with the name Sampson
- Drew Sampson: American actor, best known for his work on "The Hunting Party", Hollywood horror film.
- Lindsey Sampson: One of the stars of MTV's The Challenge: All Stars and a cast member of The Challenge: Final Reckoning.
- Phil Sampson: English-born professional footballer who played for Liverpool, Newcastle United and Queen's Park Rangers.
- H. Stephen Sampson: retired American professor and electrophysiologist at Stanford University, Mayo Clinic and Boston University.
- Ted Sampson: former professional basketball player who played for the Los Angeles Lakers and the Seattle SuperSonics.
- Lyam Sampson: British Olympic rower who won bronze in the men's eight at the 2008 Summer Olympics.
- Carly Sampson: Canadian singer-songwriter from Calgary, Alberta. Her latest album, “Little Dove”, was nominated for a 2020 Juno Award.
- Peggy Sampson: an American actress best known for her roles in films such as Silver Linings Playbook and Lord of War.
- Jim Sampson: Canadian politician, former university president, and engineer. He served as the mayor of Edmonton, Alberta from 1996-2001.
- Ron Sampson: former running back who played two seasons for the Chicago Bears in the National Football League (NFL).