Surname Semel - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'S'
Semel: What does the surname Semel mean?
The last name "Semel" does not have a definitive meaning tied to it, as such, because it can have multiple origins and may mean different things in different cultures or languages. It appears to have Ashkenazi Jewish roots, where it is thought to be derived from the Hebrew word "shammai," meaning "appellation." However, this is speculative and not confirmed.
"Semel" can also be found in Latin, where it means "once" or "a single time." But this is more likely a coincidence rather than the true source, as surnames rarely derive from such common words.
In general, it might be more useful to understand the heritage or culture of a specific Semel family to get a sense of the potential meaning behind their name. However, it's important to note that many family names, especially those that have been passed down over many generations, may have uncertain or lost meanings.
Order DNA origin analysisSemel: Where does the name Semel come from?
The Semel surname is mostly found in the United States and is considered of Jewish heritage. It appears to have originated either in Germany or Poland and is believed to be a derivative of the given name Shmuel, derived from the Hebrew “Shemuel” which means “heard of God”.
In the United States, the Semel name is particularly well-represented in California. According to Ancestry.com, the highest number of individuals bearing the surname live in California ( 374 ) followed by New York (243), Florida (138), Massachusetts (80), and New Jersey (63).
In Israel, the Semel surname is well-known as well. The most recent census in 2020 showed that about 350 individuals in Israel had this surname, with most people living in the Jerusalem area.
Moreover, the Semel name is also common in the United Kingdom, especially in London. The Office for National Statistics reported that, in 2017, 491 people had the Semel surname living in England and Wales.
The Semel name is likely to have spread over generations as immigrants from Europe, especially Eastern Europe, arrived in the United States and other parts of the world. It is also possible that the surname expanded due to the large intermarriage of Jewish families in the United States and other diasporic communities throughout the world.
Overall, The Semel surname is found in many different parts of the world, including the United States, Israel, and the United Kingdom. This may be attributed to the immigration patterns from Eastern Europe generations ago, as well as the presence of a strong and cohesive Jewish diasporic community that keeps the Semel name alive across the globe.
Variations of the surname Semel
The surname Semel is found throughout Europe and has a variety of variant spellings and surnames of the same origin. Many of the variants can be traced back to the medieval Latin word "semel," meaning “once,” and the symbol “dis”, meaning “twice.”
Variant spellings of Semel include Sement, Semelis, Semal, Sembiel, Dimel, and Zamel. These spellings can be found in various countries including Germany, The Netherlands, Poland, and Romania.
Surnames of the same origin as Semel could include Semple, Simel, Simmell, Simell, Simmil, Siemel, and Simill. These surnames originated in England and Scotland and can be found in records dating back to the 1500s.
In addition, some variants of the surname are unique to certain regions and languages, such as Szemiel in Poland and Shemel in Russia. Similarly, some variants used in other languages and cultures can be adapted to Semel. For example, the Sephardic Jewish name Semuel (or Simuel) is derived from an Arabic word meaning “hearing.” This was often changed to “Semel” in Ashkenazi communities.
All of these variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Semel provide valuable insight into the geographical and cultural history of the surname, indicating the various lines of ancestry from which the name originates.
Famous people with the name Semel
- Terry Semel: Former Chairman and CEO of Yahoo!
- Jonathan Semel: Music producer
- Justine Semel: Artist, author, and special effects makeup artist
- Albert Semel: Actor, singer, and composer
- Daniel Semel: Broadcast journalist
- Eric Semel: Producer, director, and cameraman
- Stephen Semel: Executive producer
- Joshua Semel: Veterinary scientist
- Henry Semel: Lyricist and composer
- Laraine Semel: Broadway dancer, singer, and actor