SEMPLE
Semple is a surname of both French and Scottish origin. It derives from the Old French word simple, meaning plain or humble, and was originally used as a nickname for a person of modest disposition. Over time the nickname was adopted as a hereditary surname and has been passed down through successive generations.
One theory identifies the name as habitational, taken from the myriad Norman localities called Saint-Pol or Saint-Paul which were named after St. Paul. The surname was introduced into England by followers of William the Conqueror after the Norman Conquest of 1066 and subsequently spread into the British Isles.
In Scotland, the surname is also linked to a personal nickname derived from the Middle English and Old French term simple, itself ultimately from the Latin word simplus. The name was borne by a number of prominent families, one of which held the hereditary post of Sheriff of Renfrewshire from the 13th century onward. In 1489 the first Lord Sempill was ennobled by James I, and he was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.
Early documentary evidence records the name in the Court Rolls of the Abbey of Ramsey and the Honour of Clare, Cambridge, where the spelling Symon Sempol appears in 1271 during the reign of King Henry the First, known as “The Frenchman”. Later entries in church registers are also abundant: a christening of Alexander Semple in St. Cuthbert’s, Edinburgh, on 22 December 1700, a marriage of John Semple and Frances Nutt in St. Mary’s, St. Marylebone, London, on 25 May 1776, and a union of John Semple and Jennett Strawbridge recorded at Derry Cathedral on 12 June 1660.
Today, individuals bearing the surname Semple can be found throughout the world, with significant concentrations in Scotland and other English‑speaking countries. The name remains a recognised element of Scottish heritage and a testament to the enduring influence of Norman linguistic heritage within the British Isles.
Typical given names associated with the Semple surname
Male
- Alexander
- Andrew
- David
- Ian
- James
- John
- Paul
- Robert
- Thomas
- William
Female
- Anne
- Catherine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Jennifer
- Julie
- Kirsty
- Margaret
- Mary
- Sarah
- 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 Semple in...
Braille
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Morse
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Semaphore
Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Semple are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Shortbread.
There are approximately 3,270 people named Semple in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,777th most common surname in Britain. Around 50 in a million people in Britain are named Semple.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Semple
- Stuart Semple - Artist
- Keith Semple - Northern Irish musician
- Archie Semple - Musician (1928 to 1974)
- Billy Semple - Scottish football player
- Ryan Semple - Football player
- Callum Semple - Football player
- Jamie Semple -
- William Semple - Football player
- Ryan Semple - Football player born 1985
- John Semple - Scottish football player
- Bobby Semple - Scottish darts player
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.