SAMUELS
The surname Samuels is a patronymic name denoting descent from an ancestor named Samuel. Its origin is traced to the Hebrew given name Samuel, which the Hebrew language interprets as *“heard by God”* or *“name of God.”* The name bears significant religious connotations, being associated with the Old Testament prophet and judge who is revered in Christian tradition as a mediator between God and His people.
In English history the name first entered common use during the 12th century, introduced by Crusader knights who returned from the Holy Land. These Crusaders adapted several Hebrew names for use within England, including Samuel, Michael, Isaac, and John. Prior to the emergence of recorded surnames, the given name Samuel was documented in the Curia Regis Rolls of Kent in 1198, and by 1279 a landholder recorded in the Hundred Rolls of Oxford bore the name William Samwel. Both instances signify the earliest uses of the name in a hereditary context.
By the early 14th century, variations such as Samwell and the patronymic Samuels were already established. Subsequent centuries produced further notable bearers of the name, including William Samuel (1520–1569), a clergyman employed by the Duke of Somerset; Edward Samuel, a Welsh author and incumbent of rectories in Denby and Merioneth; and David Samwell, who served as first mate to Captain Cook and died in London in 1799. These individuals illustrate the continued prominence of the surname within ecclesiastical, literary, and exploratory contexts.
The earliest documented spelling for the family is found in the Danelaw Rolls of Lincolnshire, where an Adolfus Samuel is recorded in 1160 during the reign of King Henry I, known as the *church builder* (1154–1189). The emergence of the surname during this period reflects the broader trend of adopting Hebrew-derived names within the medieval English nobility and gentry.
A heraldic device associated with the Samuels family features a red field with a cross. In the first and fourth quarters appears a lion rampant; in the second and third a silver eagle displayed, accompanied by a rose of the field. Though heraldry varies among lines, this emblem has served as a visual mark of identity for certain branches of the Samuels.
Typical given names associated with the Samuels surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Claire
- Jacqueline
- Jean
- Jennifer
- Lisa
- Marcia
- Margaret
- Michelle
- Nicola
- Sarah
- Sharon
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Samuels in...
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There are approximately 6,638 people named Samuels in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,418th most common surname in Britain. Around 102 in a million people in Britain are named Samuels.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Samuels
- Safaree Samuels - American rapper
- Harmony Samuels - Musician
- Tim Samuels - Television presenter
- Lauren Samuels - Musical theatre actress
- Andrew Samuels - Psycholigist
- Charles E. Samuels Jr. -
- Les Samuels - Football player (1928 to 1998)
- Michael Samuels - Linguist (1920 to 2010)
- Vernon Samuels - Athlete
- Harry Samuels - Lawyer (1893 to 1)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.