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

Samsell, 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 Samsell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Samsell in America

Samsell is the 152628th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Samsell surname appeared 107 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Samsell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Samsell 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 Samsell

The surname Samsell is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the 13th century. It is believed to have originated as a locational name, derived from a place name like Samwell or Sanwell, which were small villages or hamlets in various parts of England during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "Samfell." This ancient document, also known as the Rotuli Hundredorum, was a census-like record compiled by the royal government of King Edward I, listing landowners and their holdings throughout England.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as "Samewell" and "Samwelle," reflecting the phonetic variations common in those times. One notable bearer was John Samewell, a prominent merchant from Bristol, who is mentioned in the city's records from the late 1300s.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land and property compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the Samsell surname. However, it does mention several place names that may have contributed to the surname's development, such as Samwell in Oxfordshire and Sanwell in Hertfordshire.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the name continued to evolve, with spellings like "Samsill" and "Sampsell" appearing in various records. One notable individual from this period was Robert Samsill, a landowner from Gloucestershire, who is mentioned in the county's tax rolls from the late 1500s.

The 18th century saw the emergence of several notable figures bearing the Samsell surname. Among them was John Samsell, a renowned clockmaker from London, who lived from 1720 to 1789. His intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the aristocracy and remain prized by collectors today.

Another prominent individual was Sarah Samsell, a writer and educator who lived from 1745 to 1818. She was one of the first women to publish books on educational theory and pedagogy, contributing significantly to the advancement of education for women during the Enlightenment period.

In the 19th century, the surname gained further recognition with the exploits of William Samsell, an explorer and naturalist who traveled extensively throughout Africa and Asia. Born in 1815, his detailed accounts and extensive collections of plant and animal specimens greatly contributed to the scientific understanding of those regions.

While the Samsell surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its rich history and diverse bearers have left an indelible mark on various fields, from commerce and craftsmanship to literature and exploration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Samsell

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

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 Samsell 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 Samsell 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 Samsell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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