Samson Surname

1,099th
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 487,967 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
Tanzania
Highest density in:
Marshall Islands

Samson Surname Definition:

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Samson' Old English Sampson; Old French Sanson. With the forms Sansom, &c, compare Ransome for Ranson, or the dictionary word random for randon. It has been stated that Sansom stands for some local St.

Read More About This Surname

Samson Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Tanzania104,5221:50762
Nigeria102,9601:1,721228
Philippines66,5161:1,52292
Ethiopia58,1131:1,679299
Malawi22,4021:76455
United States15,0431:24,0953,039
France13,3171:4,988403
Chad12,1321:1,120212
Canada10,9821:3,355427
Kenya9,3171:4,957698
Papua New Guinea8,9581:91029
Madagascar5,4331:4,353906
South Africa4,8961:11,0661,379
Sudan4,7601:7,8801,122
Ghana4,0871:6,611898
Rwanda4,0311:2,819692
India3,0611:250,59314,523
Zimbabwe2,9451:5,242525
Romania2,7771:7,230955
England2,7251:20,4472,898
Haiti2,5901:4,125530
Australia1,7081:15,8052,231
Sri Lanka1,6081:12,9411,861
Poland1,3181:28,8384,393
Botswana1,2351:1,771157
Germany1,2311:65,3988,376
DR Congo1,1361:65,0357,666
Scotland1,0501:5,099855
Netherlands1,0441:16,1752,476
Moldova1,0171:3,502487
United Arab Emirates9741:9,4071,187
Indonesia9561:138,33613,739
Vanuatu8651:30443
Togo7351:9,8612,446
New Zealand6191:7,3161,250
Russia6111:235,88125,251
Malaysia5661:52,1104,053
Belgium5301:21,6923,371
Ukraine4781:95,23613,641
Iraq4721:74,1982,487
Israel4551:18,8082,803
Cameroon3881:53,5296,977
Hong Kong3651:20,097446
Saudi Arabia3181:97,03114,320
Pakistan3131:570,7479,288
Suriname3071:1,800220
Solomon Islands2981:1,946156
Denmark2971:19,0061,885
Spain2951:158,48111,552
Seychelles2641:35070
Mali2581:65,7711,556
Egypt2441:376,78623,402
Oman2251:16,3911,699
Algeria2181:177,20921,974
Marshall Islands2131:24320
Dominican Republic1931:54,0572,726
Liberia1921:22,9612,269
Sweden1891:52,0994,013
Belarus1741:54,6049,294
Uganda1571:248,65818,515
Czechia1401:75,95312,741
Thailand1301:543,37293,529
Benin1291:80,1219,489
Switzerland1221:67,3198,149
Argentina1011:423,20232,207
Turkey981:794,09638,963
Kuwait961:39,5914,718
Bahrain881:15,3253,085
Wales881:35,1653,495
Brazil851:2,518,52276,509
Ireland831:56,7343,894
Ivory Coast821:281,35610,805
Italy741:826,44264,449
Qatar621:38,0323,887
Slovakia621:86,07216,607
Jersey591:1,681251
Jamaica551:52,1812,997
Saint Lucia501:3,576527
Mozambique491:556,3591,404
Cyprus481:18,4352,076
Norway481:107,13114,344
Croatia471:89,97014,942
Transnistria471:10,1002,028
Aruba461:2,250326
Chile441:400,37410,831
Taiwan441:532,8353,989
Estonia421:31,4725,782
Brunei371:11,3171,397
Angola361:749,7002,649
Austria361:236,54028,356
Cook Islands341:53565
Faroe Islands341:1,441174
Guam331:4,852643
Luxembourg331:17,5923,875
Nauru311:383126
Zambia301:528,33122,995
Lebanon281:201,3248,427
Portugal281:372,08012,265
China261:52,589,2912,849
Latvia261:78,84811,595
Burundi251:392,194499
Eritrea251:190,076185
Curaçao231:6,837197
Greece221:503,62763,727
Mexico201:6,206,31032,158
Lesotho191:106,97711,319
Saint Martin191:1,85042
Cayman Islands131:4,915636
Singapore131:423,66918,211
Northern Ireland121:153,7538,250
Guinea111:1,075,8021,333
Isle of Man111:7,8021,618
Kazakhstan111:1,607,50079,317
Bermuda101:6,5281,005
Japan101:12,784,42945,945
Paraguay101:723,6758,089
South Korea101:5,124,026903
Bangladesh91:17,706,30813,537
Ecuador91:1,767,31620,027
Fiji91:99,3771,883
Tunisia91:67,8478,246
Afghanistan81:4,019,14821,487
Burkina Faso81:2,294,01216,398
Iceland81:47,5113,734
Cambodia71:2,212,4497,503
Niger61:3,198,67054,540
Venezuela61:5,034,01343,431
Armenia51:586,03610,281
Mauritius51:258,6838,939
Nepal51:5,696,19113,053
Panama51:782,45211,059
Finland41:1,374,17650,379
French Polynesia41:70,2014,444
Malta41:107,5681,849
Micronesia41:26,561731
Morocco41:8,619,02573,251
Senegal41:3,644,8366,064
Somalia41:3,363,0155,093
Swaziland41:324,550996
Azerbaijan31:3,216,37432,290
Lithuania31:1,011,52932,308
Monaco31:12,3552,088
Peru31:10,594,70845,902
Trinidad and Tobago31:454,65814,297
Vietnam31:30,882,0184,101
Bulgaria21:3,489,45264,958
Colombia21:23,887,03632,612
Guyana21:381,11013,532
Jordan21:4,421,21822,351
Macau21:300,8151,009
Serbia21:3,572,47432,645
United States Virgin Islands21:55,1886,229
Yemen21:13,212,64740,633
American Samoa11:55,7583,072
Antigua and Barbuda11:99,1712,137
Bahamas11:391,7512,737
Bosnia and Herzegovina11:3,536,40219,532
Central African Republic11:4,515,3901,196
Congo11:4,989,09634,171
East Timor11:1,215,928507
Falkland Islands11:3,132317
Gabon11:1,889,1946,814
Grenada11:108,5351,793
Guatemala11:16,082,66812,169
Hungary11:9,816,27773,288
Iran11:76,782,524277,718
Libya11:6,243,9746,186
North Macedonia11:2,101,47231,546
Maldives11:404,1727,269
Myanmar11:51,937,9852,166
Namibia11:2,409,40119,676
Saint Kitts and Nevis11:55,1991,294
South Sudan11:11,415,0763,182
Syria11:19,301,02222,457
Tonga11:107,313791
Turkmenistan11:5,489,11211,427
Uruguay11:3,431,75838,295
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland191:233,15110,389
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
England1,2831:18,9992,731
Scotland8171:4,582724
Wales251:62,7373,061
Jersey161:3,243531
Guernsey71:4,665827
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States2,0531:24,4613,046

The alternate forms: Sámson (353), Samsón (2), Samsoń (1), Šamšon (3), Sámšon (1) & Šámšon (12) are calculated separately.

Samson (801,988) may also be a first name.

Samson Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Samson' Old English Sampson; Old French Sanson. With the forms Sansom, &c, compare Ransome for Ranson, or the dictionary word random for randon. It has been stated that Sansom stands for some local St. Anselm (compare Semple for St. Paul, Sampier for St. Pierre). This is without foundation. As a personal name Samson was in very early use. Mr. Freeman has three instances in Index to vol. iv (History Norman Conquest). One was Bishop of Worcester; a second, chaplain to William I; a third, messenger to Matilda. The following entries concern one individual:

Sampson Foliot, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

Sanson Foliot, ibid.

Saunsum Foliot, ibid.

Sansum le Rus, Cambridgeshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Samson de Baterford, Bedfordshire, ibid.

Sampson de Boxe, Wiltshire, ibid.

'Item, the vi. day of Aprylle, my mastyr made a couvenaunt wyth Saunsain, the tylere, that he schalle perget,' &c.: Accounts of Sir John Howard (A.D. 1467).; Promptorium Parvulorum.)

A well-known monastery near Rouen was built by the Archbishop of Dol, known as St. Sansone or St. Sampson. The personal name lingered long in Cornwall, where so many pre-Reformation favourites died hard.

1559. Married — John Sampson and Elizabeth Clarke, widow: St. Michael, Cornhill.

1582. Baptised — Warne, son of Sampson Morcambe: Reg. St. Columb Major, Cornwall.

1736. Married — Abraham Sampson and Ann Lawton: St. George, Hanover Square.Stolen from Fore bears

1756. — Thomas Younger and Ann Sansum: ibid.

1769. — John Sansom and Elizabeth Bellton: ibid.

1777. — Moses Samson and Mary Best: ibid.

A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (1896) by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley

A Biblical name among the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans, from Hebrew Shimshon, in the Vulgate Samson, and in the Septuagint Sampson. A very rare name in Scotland. Samson was the first known bishop of Dunkeld,c. 1150-c. 1178 (Dowden, p. 173). In a document cited in RMS. (II, 1791) his name is spelled Sonsan. Laurence Samson was witness in Lanarkshire, 1513 (Ros, 41), and Nicolas Samson is recorded in Chirnsyde, 1668 (Lauder).

The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

1 Splendid Sun [Hebrew Shimshón] Samsones strencþe, þet slouh a þusund of his fon [foes] al et one time.— Ancren Riwle (‘Luve’) We find both forms of the name in mediæval German literature, e.g. Sampson in Hugo von Montfort’s 14th.cent. ‘Tagelied,’ and Samson in the 12th-cent. ‘Alex-anderlied’ of the Pfaffen Lamprecht.

2 Sam’s Son: v. Samuel.

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

“Awe-Inspiring” in Hebrew.

South African Surnames (1965) by Eric Rosenthal

(English) The son of Sam, a pet form of Samuel (God hath heard); descendant of Samson (splendid sun).

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

Not from the Hebrew worthy, but the son of Sam, or Samuel, the P being inserted, as in Thompson, Simpson, Jempson, &c., for strength and euphony.

Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower

Samson Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Samson Come From? nationality or country of origin

The surname Samson (Arabic: صمصون, Bengali: সামসন, Georgian: სამსონ, Hindi: सैमसन, Marathi: सँमसन, Oriya: ସାମସନ, Russian: Самсон, Tibetan: སམ་སན་) is found most frequently in Tanzania. It may appear as a variant: Sámson, Samsón, Samsoń, Šamšon, Sámšon or Šámšon. For other potential spellings of this last name click here.

How Common Is The Last Name Samson? popularity and diffusion

Samson is the 1,099th most numerous family name at a global level, held by around 1 in 14,935 people. The surname occurs mostly in Africa, where 70 percent of Samson live; 36 percent live in East Africa and 23 percent live in East Bantu Africa. Samson is also the 1,173rd most numerous first name worldwide, held by 801,988 people.

The last name is most widely held in Tanzania, where it is held by 104,522 people, or 1 in 507. In Tanzania it is most common in: Mwanza Region, where 13 percent live, Mara Region, where 10 percent live and Geita Region, where 9 percent live. Other than Tanzania it is found in 176 countries. It is also common in Nigeria, where 21 percent live and The Philippines, where 14 percent live.

Samson Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The prevalency of Samson has changed through the years. In The United States the number of people bearing the Samson surname expanded 733 percent between 1880 and 2014; in England it expanded 212 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Scotland it expanded 129 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Wales it expanded 352 percent between 1881 and 2014 and in Ireland it expanded 437 percent between 1901 and 2014.

Samson Last Name Statistics demography

The religious adherence of those bearing the last name is principally Congregationalist (37%) in Ireland, Orthodox (73%) in Russia, Orthodox (80%) in Belarus, Christian (99%) in Kenya, Maronite (88%) in Lebanon, Christian (94%) in Nigeria and Orthodox (78%) in Ukraine.

In The United States Samson are 4.61% more likely to be registered Republicans than the national average, with 51.38% being registered with the party.

The amount Samson earn in different countries varies greatly. In Italy they earn 62.36% less than the national average, earning €11,304 per year; in Norway they earn 8% less than the national average, earning 318,409 kr per year; in Peru they earn 44.29% less than the national average, earning S/. 10,800 per year; in South Africa they earn 30.03% less than the national average, earning R 166,272 per year; in United States they earn 10.85% more than the national average, earning $47,832 USD per year and in Canada they earn 11.93% less than the national average, earning $43,758 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Sámson94353/
Samsón942/
Samsoń941/
Samsoon92507/
Samsoen92278/
Shamson92171/
Siamson92114/
Samsone92100/
Samsson9287/
Samsong9263/
Saimson9217/
Samsion9210/
Sammson928/
Sasmson928/
Samsonn926/
Satmson925/
Saamson923/
Sahmson923/
Samsoun922/
Hsamson922/
Samsoin922/
Samnson922/
Samsoën922/
Samshon921/
Saymson921/
Samhson921/
Samsosn921/
Samsonq921/
Samsgon921/
Samzson921/
Seamson920/
Samsohn920/
Šamšon893/
Sámšon891/
Shamshon86197/
Szamszon8644/
Samsound8626/
Shamsoon8614/
Shamsoun8611/
Satimson865/
Siamsson864/
Samshone861/
Sahamson861/
Samssoun861/
Sammmson861/
Sammsong861/
Samshoon861/
Sheamson860/
Seammson860/
Sanson8371,965/
Samsun831,783/
Samsom831,630/
Somson831,431/
Samsen831,222/
Samsan83551/
Zamson8386/
Šámšon8312/
Samzon837/
Samjon833/
Samcon832/
Samsonova8039,670/
Samsonová80211/
Shamshoun80154/
Shamshoon8022/
Samsonowa8015/
Saumsoong802/
Shamsan7739,756/
Sansone7721,032/
Somsong773,202/
Sainson77995/
Shamsun77557/
Sianson77439/
Samsoum77435/
Shamsen77377/
Chamson77308/
Samsian77143/
Saimsan77116/
Shanson77115/
Samsang7795/
Sansson7762/
Samsung7736/
Sansong7717/
Samshan7716/
Samseen7712/
Sansion7710/
Samshun777/
Samsund777/
Samsand777/
Shomson776/
Shamzon776/
Sansoin775/
Sansoun775/
Samjong775/
Seanson775/
Samsuom775/
Samsuin774/
Samssan773/
Saamsan773/
Samsune773/
Samssen773/
Samzone773/
Saunson772/
Samdjon772/
Samsoom772/
Saimsen771/
Sannson771/
Sansonn771/
Samsant771/
Samjone771/
Saanson771/
Siomson771/
Zamsson771/
Sansçon771/
Saymsen771/
Somsone771/
Samsane771/
Somsoun771/
Seimson770/
Zeamson770/
Shamsonova7528/
Samsonnova751/
Shamsian712,576/
Sansonne71408/
Shanshon71101/
Chaimson7186/
Shamshun7155/
Shamshan7139/
Chamsong7135/
Sansogne7128/
Shamsane7127/
Samsutin7118/
Schanson7116/
Shamseen7112/
Samssund7111/
Samsutyn7110/
Shamshom717/
Shamsand717/
Chamsoon717/
Soumsong715/
Saimshan714/
Seansong714/
Shaunson713/
Shamzoon713/
Sanssone713/
Somsoung712/
Samsusin712/
Samsgaun712/
Shamsund712/
Seamsang712/
Sanszone711/
Shomnson711/
Shansong711/
Shamjoon711/
Shamssan711/
Sansoune711/
Shamsaan711/
Shamzoun711/
Sian'son711/
Saimsung711/
Sainsson711/
Samnzong711/
Samchong711/
Satenson711/
Sanssoun711/
Szomszon711/
Szamszonova711/
Sansoung711/
Somshong711/
Somsoong711/
Sheanson710/
Seansson710/
Sansom6712,763/
Sansen675,075/
Samsam674,790/
Sansan673,559/
Somsen67978/
Sanzon67839/
Sancon67613/
Samsum67581/
Samzun67344/
Shamshoum67225/
Samsem67217/
Somsom6791/
Somsonova6772/
Sanjon6765/
Samcan6748/
Zamsan6745/
Shamshoom6745/
Sansão6744/
Samchusin6744/
Samjan6741/
Sansón6738/
Samjun6719/
Chaimsohn6713/
Samsanova6710/
Çamsun679/
Samzan678/
Zanson677/
Shamshaan677/
Sámsonová676/
Zamzon674/
Shamshang673/
Zomson673/
Sançon673/
Shamsheun673/
Samsunova672/
Sansonova672/
Sanxon671/
Samsenova671/
Zsaunsone671/
Zamsen671/
Şamsan671/
Shchanson671/
Samsanowa671/
Samcen671/
Sansòn671/
Schansson671/
Sheansoon671/
Chaimsoon671/
Xanson670/

Samson Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
Samson in the Georgian language
სამსონsamson-
Samson in the Hindi language
सैमसनsaimasana84.62
समसोनsamasona7.69
सैम्संनsaimsanna2.56
शमशानsamasana2.56
सैम्सनsaimsana2.56
Samson in the Bengali language
সামসনsamasana75
স্যামসনsyamasana16.67
সমসনsamasana8.33
Samson in the Oriya language
ସାମସନsamasana54.1
ଶାମସନsamasana9.84
ସାମସନ୍samasan8.2
ସାମ୍ସନ୍samsan3.28
ସାମଶନsamasana3.28
ସାମ୍ସନsamsana3.28
ସାମସାନsamasana1.64
ଶାମଶନsamasana1.64
ସମେସାନsamesana1.64
ସାମେସାନsamesana1.64
ଶାମ୍ସନ୍samsan1.64
ସାମେସନ୍samesan1.64
ସାସମନsasamana1.64
ଶାମ୍ସନsamsana1.64
ସାମେଶାନsamesana1.64
Samson in the Tibetan language
སམ་སན་samsen50
བསམ་སོན་samsön50
Samson in the Marathi language
सँमसनsammasana24.49
समसनsamasana18.37
सोनsona12.93
सैमसनsaimasana8.84
सामसनsamasana6.8
समसोनsamasona6.12
शामसनsamasana3.4
सामसोनsamasona2.04
समसॅनsamasena1.36
सामसॅनsamasena1.36
संसोनsansona1.36
यामसोनyamasona0.68
शरॉनsarona0.68
समसुनsamasuna0.68
समोशsamosa0.68
शमासनsamasana0.68
सामसॉनsamasona0.68
शारोनsarona0.68
समासीनsamasina0.68
सॅमसोनsemasona0.68
शमसूनsamasuna0.68
समसणsamasana0.68
शामसेनsamasena0.68
सॅमसॉनsemasona0.68
शमसनsamasana0.68
Samson in the Russian language
Самсонsamson-
Samson in the Arabic language
صمصونsmswn-
صمسونsmswn-
سمسونsmswn-
سامسونsamswn-

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Samson Reference & Research

Sams DNA Website - A web page dedicated to the genetic research of those who bear the surname and its variants.

Sams FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Samson
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis