Surname Sansom - Meaning and Origin
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Sansom: What does the surname Sansom mean?
The surname Sansom is of French origin, derived from the Old French personal name "Samson", which is from the Hebrew name Shimshon, meaning "sun". As a surname, it was typically used in a patronymic sense and would have initially been used to facilitate identification by adding the father's name to the child's given name. The surname first surfaced in Northern England, specifically in county Yorkshire, after the Norman conquest of Britain in 1066. Variations of the surname include Sanson, Sansom, Samson and Sams. It is important to note that the meaning of a surname can often be subject to various interpretations and can change over time due to factors such as geographical origin, translation, and evolution of language. Notable people with the last name Sansom include the English novelists Catherine Sansom and William Sansom, as well as the football player Kenny Sansom.
Order DNA origin analysisSansom: Where does the name Sansom come from?
The last name Sansom is most commonly found in the United Kingdom today. Specifically, it is one of the more commonly found surnames in Great Britain and in other parts of Northern and Western Europe. Locations where the Sansom name is more common include England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany, and Scandinavia.
The Sansom surname has appeared in histories and records as far back as the 12th century. It was particularly popular in the 14th century, with records dating to this period in England and France. It was used up until the early 20th century, with records suggesting that there were many Sansom families in the U.K. at this time. The Sansom name is particularly common today in Staffordshire and Devon, as well as in several smaller cities and towns across Britain.
It is thought that the Sansom name originates from the Old French given name Sanz or Sans, which refers to a person who is without anything or "void." The English word "void" is thought to have derived from this same root. The name was likely adopted by some families in the Middle Ages as a way to distinguish themselves from other families with the same name. It is also possible that those who took on the Sansom surname came from a town or village with the same name.
Variations of the surname Sansom
The surname Sansom is of Brittonic origin and can have various spellings and variants, depending on the time period and the language of the document. Spelling variations of this surname include Samson, Sansam, SANSAM, Sansome, Sanzam, Sanse, Sanseau, Sansim, SANSOM, Sansomme, Sanssen, Sanssum, Sansum and Sansume.
Sansom is a patronymic surname meaning 'son of Samson'. It is derived from the biblical figure of the same name who was the last of the Judges of the Ancient Israelites mentioned in the Book of Judges. Sansom was introduced to Britain by the Normans in the 11th and 12th centuries during their conquest of the country.
Sansom is also a common spelling in Yorkshire, England. Other variants of Sansom found in the region include Sansum, Sanson, SANSOME and Sansumme. This spelling is also found in Germany, Denmark, and Norway along with other Scandinavian countries, where the spelling is usually Sansom or Samsom.
In Scotland and Ireland, the surname is also quite common. In Scotland, the spelling Sansomme is more common and in Ireland, Samsom is the most popular variant.
The popularity of the surname Sansom is evident in both the United States and Canada with the spelling Sansom being the most popular. In the United States, there are also a variety of different spellings such as Sansum, Samsom, and Sansome.
Due to its regional variation and its prevalence around the world, the Sansom surname has come to refer to many different spelling variations in the English language.
Famous people with the name Sansom
- Joe Sansom: British professional ice hockey player
- Mandy Sansom: British Mountain Guide and climber
- Julie Sansom: Head of Rosslyn Academy in Kenya
- Mamie Sansom: American Empire-style fashion designer
- Alex Sansom: English footballer
- Paddy Sansom: Irish Gaelic footballer
- Paul Sansom: British actor
- Charles Sansom: British Army officer and Victoria Cross recipient
- Joanna Sansom: English filmmaker
- Randy Sansom: American rapper and music producer