Samuels
A patronymic surname derived from the Biblical male given name Samuel, meaning "name of God" or "God has heard."
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 25,809 Americans carry the last name Samuels. That puts it at #1,621 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 7.53 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 13,280 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Samuels surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
26K
1 in 13,280
Census rank
#1,621
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
7.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
22K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 22,207 bearers of the surname Samuels in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 7.53 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1621st position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Samuels, the largest self-reported group is Black at 53.4%. The next largest groups are White (38.8%) and Hispanic (3.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Samuels
The surname Samuels has its origins in the Middle Ages, deriving from the Hebrew personal name Samuel, meaning "name of God" or "heard by God." The name is believed to have originated in the Middle East, likely in ancient Israel, and was later carried to various parts of Europe by Jewish communities.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Samuels can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, England, from the year 1195, where a certain Samuel de Gloucestre is mentioned. This indicates that the name had already taken root in England by the late 12th century.
In the 13th century, the surname Samuels appears in various records across Europe, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in England (1275), where a William Samuels is listed. During this period, the name was often spelled in various ways, such as Samuell, Samwell, and Samwyll.
The name Samuels has also been linked to certain place names, such as Samuelston in Scotland and Samuelsdorf in Germany, suggesting that some individuals with this surname may have taken their names from these locations or vice versa.
Notable individuals with the surname Samuels throughout history include:
1. Sir Philip Samuels (1592-1654), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1644.
2. Ralph Samuels (1696-1764), an English philosopher and mathematician who made significant contributions to the study of optics.
3. Nathaniel Samuels (1768-1842), an American Revolutionary War soldier and farmer from Massachusetts.
4. Mary Samuels (1827-1902), an English philanthropist and social reformer who worked to improve the living conditions of factory workers.
5. Walter Samuels (1870-1936), an Australian cricketer who played Test matches for the national team in the late 19th century.
The surname Samuels has been carried across continents by various waves of migration, and it is now found in many countries around the world, particularly in areas with significant Jewish or Christian populations.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Samuels
Among Census respondents with the surname Samuels, the largest self-reported group is Black at 53.4%. The next largest groups are White (38.8%) and Hispanic (3.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Samuels bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Samuels surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American53.4%
- White38.8%
- Hispanic or Latino3.1%
- Two or more races2.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native1.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Samuels surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,621 | #1,621 | 0.0% |
| Count | 22,207 | 22,207 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 7.53 | 7.53 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Samuels bearers went from 22,207 to 22,207 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,621 to #1,621.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Samuels
FAQ
Samuels surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Samuels?
The surname Samuels holds position #1,621 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 25,809 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 7.53 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Samuels surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Samuels, the largest self-reported group is Black at 53.4%. The next largest groups are White (38.8%) and Hispanic (3.1%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.