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

Seman, 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 Seman surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Seman in America

Seman is the 13871st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Seman surname appeared 2,178 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 Seman.

We can also compare 2010 data for Seman 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 Seman

The surname SEMAN is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely stemming from the Old English word "seman," which translates to "bearer" or "carrier." This occupational name was initially given to individuals whose profession involved transporting or carrying goods, such as porters or deliverymen.

Records indicate that the earliest known reference to the SEMAN surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the late 12th century, where a certain William Seman is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273, with a Thomas Seman listed as a landowner.

Variations in spelling were common during the Middle Ages, and the SEMAN surname was sometimes recorded as Seaman, Seymon, or Seymour. These alternative spellings may have been influenced by the French "sieur" or the Latin "senior," suggesting a person of status or authority.

One notable bearer of the SEMAN name was Sir John Seman, a merchant and alderman in the City of London during the 14th century. He served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1381 and played a crucial role in suppressing the Peasants' Revolt led by Wat Tyler.

Another prominent figure was Richard Seman, a wealthy landowner from Wiltshire who lived in the 15th century. Records indicate that he was a member of the gentry and held significant estates in the region.

In the 16th century, a branch of the SEMAN family settled in the county of Somerset, where they became respected members of the local community. One individual, Thomas Seman, born in 1547, was a prosperous farmer and served as a churchwarden in his parish.

During the Tudor period, the SEMAN surname was often associated with the town of Sevenoaks in Kent. This connection may have led to the alternative spelling of "Sevenoak" or "Sevenokes" being adopted by some branches of the family.

In the 17th century, a notable bearer of the SEMAN name was John Seman, a merchant and ship owner based in the port city of Bristol. He was involved in the lucrative transatlantic trade and is recorded as having owned several vessels that sailed to the American colonies.

While the SEMAN surname has its roots in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and travel. However, the historical records and references mentioned above provide valuable insights into the origins and early bearers of this occupational surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Seman

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

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

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

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