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

Semons, 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 Semons surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Semons in America

Semons is the 90495th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Semons surname appeared 204 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 Semons.

We can also compare 2010 data for Semons 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 Semons

The surname Semons has its origins in medieval England, specifically in the county of Somerset. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "seaman," which referred to someone who lived near the sea or made their living from the sea. This occupation-based surname would have initially been used to identify individuals by their trade or location.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Semons can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Somerset from 1182, where a certain William Semons is mentioned as a tenant of the local lord. This suggests that the name had already been established in the region by the late 12th century.

During the Middle Ages, the Semons family is known to have held lands and properties in the village of Seavington St. Michael, located in the Somerset Levels. This area was historically known for its marshlands and proximity to the Bristol Channel, lending credence to the theory that the name originated from those who lived or worked near the sea.

In the 14th century, the Semons surname appears in several historical documents, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a Hugo Semons is listed as a landholder in Somerset. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 also mention a John Semons from the same county, indicating the continued presence of the family in the region.

Notable individuals with the surname Semons include:

1. Sir William Semons (c. 1410-1482), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Somerset, who served as a knight of the shire for the county in the Parliament of 1461.

2. Robert Semons (c. 1520-1588), a merchant and alderman in the city of Bristol, known for his involvement in the wool trade and his philanthropic contributions to the city.

3. Elizabeth Semons (c. 1550-1621), a landowner and benefactor from Somerset, who endowed a charitable trust for the education and support of poor children in the village of Seavington St. Michael.

4. John Semons (c. 1630-1692), a clergyman and academic who served as the Rector of St. Peter's Church in Bristol and was a fellow of Oriel College, Oxford.

5. Thomas Semons (c. 1715-1782), a prominent architect from Somerset, best known for his design of the Palladian-style manor house at Hestercombe Gardens, which is now a popular tourist attraction in the county.

While the Semons name has undergone some variations in spelling over the centuries, such as Seamons, Seemons, and Seaman, the core surname has maintained its connection to the maritime heritage and coastal regions of Somerset.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Semons

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

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

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

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