Explore the Family Name Samuel
The meaning of Samuel
English, Scottish, Welsh, German, Dutch, Spanish, French, Slovak, Czech, Jewish, and African (mainly Nigeria and Ethiopia); Hungarian (Sámuel): from the Biblical personal name Samuel (Hebrew Shemuel ‘Name of God’). In North America, the English form of the surname has absorbed cognates from other languages such as Greek patronymic Samouelidis. The name Samuel is also found among Christians in southern India, but since South Indians traditionally do not have hereditary surnames, the southern Indian name was in most cases registered as such only after immigration of its bearers to the US. Some characteristic forenames: Indian Raj, Varughese, Ashok, Babu, Eapen, Mathai, Saji, Aleykutty, Arul, Arun, Asha, Beena.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Samuel in the United States?
The surname "Samuel" has seen a notable increase in popularity from 2000 to 2010, according to the Decennial U.S. Census data. In 2000, it ranked 1711 but jumped to 1558 by 2010, representing an 8.94% change. The count of individuals with this surname also rose from 19,225 to 23,125 during the same period, marking a significant 20.29% growth. This translates to a proportion per 100,000 people that increased by 9.96%, from 7.13 to 7.84.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,711 | #1,558 | 8.94% |
| Count | 19,225 | 23,125 | 20.29% |
| Proportion per 100k | 7.13 | 7.84 | 9.96% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Samuel
In terms of ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census shows shifts in the distribution among those with the surname "Samuel." Asians/Pacific Islanders carrying the name saw an increase from 11.86% in 2000 to 15.76% in 2010, a substantial 32.88% rise. There was also a 30.27% surge in Hispanic individuals with this last name during the same decade. However, there were declines in other ethnic groups: the proportion of White individuals dropped by 8.54%, those identifying as Two or more races decreased by 17.05%, and American Indian and Alaskan Natives went down by 6.19%. Meanwhile, Black individuals make up the largest percentage of those with the surname, though there was a slight decrease from 55.58% in 2000 to 53.60% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black | 55.58% | 53.6% | -3.56% |
| White | 25.19% | 23.04% | -8.54% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 11.86% | 15.76% | 32.88% |
| Hispanic | 2.94% | 3.83% | 30.27% |
| Two or More Races | 3.46% | 2.87% | -17.05% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.97% | 0.91% | -6.19% |
Samuel ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Samuel is British & Irish, which comprises 26.0% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are Nigerian (10.8%) and Ashkenazi Jewish (8.9%). Additional ancestries include French & German, Malayali Subgroup, Ghanaian, Liberian & Sierra Leonean, Southern Indian & Sri Lankan, and Angolan & Congolese.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 26.0% |
| Nigerian | 10.8% |
| Ashkenazi Jewish | 8.9% |
| Other | 54.3% |
Possible origins of the surname Samuel
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Samuel have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 43.10% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 42.80% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 42.50% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 42.50% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 41.70% |
What Samuel haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Samuel is R-CTS241, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-CTS241 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-Z19 and E-P252, which are predominantly found among people with European and Sub-Saharan African ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Samuels, Joseph, Charles, Mitchell, Lawrence, Robinson, Banks, Jackson, Brown, Bryant.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Samuel surname are: M, H1, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Samuel have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Samuel" Surname 28.2%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Samuel" Surname 23.7%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Samuel" Surname 21.2%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Samuel" Surname 17.2%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Samuel?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Samuel are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition