Find out how popular the last name Samsel is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Samsel.

Samsel, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Samsel surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Samsel in America

Samsel is the 17345th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Samsel surname appeared 1,629 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Samsel.

We can also compare 2010 data for Samsel to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Samsel

The surname SAMSEL originated in Germany, with earliest records dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the German word "Samen," meaning "seed." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who worked with seeds or crops, such as a farmer or seed merchant.

SAMSEL first appeared in the region of Saxony, particularly in the areas around Leipzig and Dresden. It is possible that the name was also influenced by the Old German word "sameln," which means "to gather" or "to collect." This connection could indicate that the name was originally associated with someone who gathered or collected crops or other materials.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SAMSEL can be found in the church records of St. Thomas in Leipzig, where a Christoph SAMSEL was baptized in 1576. Another early reference is in the town of Großenhain, near Dresden, where a Hans SAMSEL was mentioned in a land registry in 1593.

In the 17th century, the name spread to other parts of Germany, with records showing SAMSELs in cities like Nuremberg and Augsburg. During this time, the spelling of the name varied slightly, with variations such as "Samsel," "Samssel," and "Samselius" appearing in different documents.

One notable individual with the surname SAMSEL was Johann Georg SAMSEL (1715-1779), a renowned clockmaker from Nuremberg. His intricate timepieces were highly prized and can be found in museums and private collections around the world.

Another prominent figure was Karl Friedrich SAMSEL (1812-1887), a German composer and music teacher who lived and worked in Leipzig. His compositions included orchestral works, chamber music, and songs.

In the 19th century, the SAMSEL surname began to appear in other parts of Europe, likely due to migration and emigration. For example, there are records of SAMSELs in the Czech Republic and Poland, possibly descendants of German settlers in those regions.

One notable SAMSEL from this time period was Alois SAMSEL (1840-1918), a Czech-born historian and archivist who made significant contributions to the study of Bohemian history and culture.

As the name spread further, it also found its way to the United States and other parts of the world. One early American SAMSEL was Johann SAMSEL (1801-1879), who immigrated from Germany to Pennsylvania in the mid-19th century.

While these are just a few examples, the SAMSEL surname has a rich history spanning several centuries and regions, reflecting the mobility and diversity of those who carried this name throughout the years.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Samsel

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Samsel.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Samsel was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Samsel has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Samsel was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Samsel, please contact us.

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