Surname Samuel - Meaning and Origin

Unveiling The Sephardic Jewish Roots of The Surname Samuel Through iGENEA DNA Test”

From the ancestral timeline etched into my DNA, the iGENEA test unveiled a surprise revelation associated with my surname, Samuel. The test provided an unexpected association to a Sephardic Jewish community from the Middle Ages. Despite having no prior knowledge of a Jewish ancestry, the indication was clear: waves of lost cultural heritage, historical migrations, leading finally to my existence.

O. Samuel

Samuel: What does the surname Samuel mean?

The last name Samuel is derived from the Hebrew name, which means "Name of God" or "God has heard". This name was borne from the biblical figure Samuel in the Old Testament, a judge and prophet who anointed Saul and David as kings of Israel. It was adopted as a Christian name in the Middle Ages and was popular among the Puritans in the 17th century. The surname Samuel is common among Jewish and Christian families, and it has various forms in different languages including Samuels, Samelson, and Samuelson. In some cultures, the name also evolved into popular diminutives and pet forms such as Sam and Sammy. Thus, the surname Samuel holds a significant religious connotation, highlighting a strong faith and connection to God.

Samuel: Where does the name Samuel come from?

The last name Samuel is most common today in countries with large Jewish populations such as the United States, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Israel, and Argentina. In the U.S. Census for 2020, the name Samuel was ranked 297th in popularity among all surnames.

The name Samuel is derived from the Biblical name "Shemu'el". The name is thought to mean either "Name of God" or "God has Heard". The name was brought to Western Europe and Britain by Jews during the Middle Ages. From there, the name spread to countries with significant Jewish populations like Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, and Israel.

In Israeli, for instance, Samuel is the 26th most popular last name. It is most popular in the city of Jerusalem, followed by Be'er Sheva and Tel Aviv-Jaffa. In Mexico, Samuel is the 181st most popular last name, being the most popular in the states of Aguascalientes, Zacatecas and Baja California Sur.

In the United States, the name Samuel is most common in the Western and Northeastern states like New York, California, Oregon, and Washington. It is also common in Puerto Rico, a US territory.

Overall, the surname Samuel is widely distributed throughout the world, particularly in countries with significant Jewish populations.

Variations of the surname Samuel

The surname Samuel is an English language surname of Hebrew origin. It is derived from the name Shemu'el, meaning "name of God". Variations of this surname include Samuels, Samuelson, Samuelian, Samuile, Samwell, Sammuel, Samuilov, Samuily, Samuelli, Samuello, Samuely, Samuelson and Samuelyan.

In some cultures, the surname Shmuel or Schmuel has also been identified as a variant of Samuel. In addition, there are numerous spelling variations of the name such as Samuell, Samual, Samuele, Shamuel, Shmuel, Shmuell, Schmuel, Shamuell, Shamuel, Samuals, Samuels, Samules, Samuells and Shemeil.

In other languages, the surname is also spelled in several different ways. In German, it is spelled Samuel or Samuels, while in Spanish and Portuguese, it is spelled Samuela, Samuella, Samuele or Samuelo. In French, it is spelled Samuels or Samuel. The surname is also found in other cultures, such as Russian, where it is spelled Samuilovi, Samuilo or Samuilovich.

Although the spelling may vary, the origin of the surname is the same: Shemu'el, meaning "name of God". The words in the surname are phonetically similar no matter which language it is spoken in, and can provide a clue to understanding its ancestry.

Famous people with the name Samuel

• Pinky Promise founder, Demitra “Mimi” Samuel
• Filmmaker, Richard Samuel
• Samael, Swiss metal band leader
• NBA player, Jrue Holiday
• Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning actor John Lithgow
• Professor of Computer Science at Johns Hopkins University, David Samuel
• Actor James Roday
• Model and actress, Asia Samuel
• Singer and songwriter, Stuarte Samuel
• Fashion Designer, Ahluwalia Samuel
• Poet, Laurence Samuel
• Barrister and judge, Samuel Levy
• Historian, Marvin Samuel
• Footballer (soccer player), Takudzwa Samuel
• Former Attorney General of the United States, Eric H. Holder Jr.
• American football player, Vyncint Smith
• Politician and businessman, M.K. Samuel
• Jazz double-bassist, Reginald Vincent Samuel
• Philosopher, William Samuel
• English cricketer, Thomas Samuel

Other surnames

SamuellSamuels