The name Susanna has its origins in the Hebrew language and culture. It is derived from the Hebrew name Shoshannah, which means "lily" or "rose." The name was adopted into Greek as Susanna and later into Latin and other European languages.

Susanna is mentioned in the Bible's Book of Daniel, where she is described as a beautiful and virtuous woman who was falsely accused of adultery. Her story is told in the apocryphal addition to the Book of Daniel known as the History of Susanna.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Susanna is in the New Testament, where it is mentioned as the name of one of the women who ministered to Jesus and his disciples (Luke 8:3). This suggests that the name was in use among Jewish communities during the 1st century AD.

In the early Christian era, Susanna became a popular name among believers, particularly in the Greek-speaking regions of the Roman Empire. Several early Christian martyrs bore the name, including Saint Susanna, a Roman martyr who lived in the 3rd century AD.

Throughout history, several notable women have borne the name Susanna. One of the earliest was Susanna of Bavaria (1502-1543), a Bavarian princess and the wife of Casimir, Margrave of Brandenburg-Bayreuth. Another was Susanna Arteaga (1591-1652), a Spanish nun and mystic who founded the Order of the Servants of Mary.

In the 17th century, the name gained prominence in England with the writer Susanna Centlivre (1667-1723), one of the most successful playwrights of her time. Another notable Susanna was Susanna Wesley (1669-1742), the mother of John and Charles Wesley, the founders of Methodism.

In the 18th century, the German composer Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) wrote a sacred cantata titled "Susanna a Sancta Maria," based on the story of Susanna from the Book of Daniel. This work contributed to the popularity of the name in Germany and other parts of Europe.

Other notable figures named Susanna include the British author Susanna Moodie (1803-1885), who wrote about her experiences as a settler in Canada, and Susanna Salter (1860-1961), the first woman elected mayor in the United States, serving in Argonia, Kansas.