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Sams History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Sams History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Sams family

The surname Sams was first found in Essex where the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands of Kelveden Hatch held by a steward of Westminster Abbey who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

William de Sahan (died 1304), was an English judge, who may have been the son of Robert de Saham, but his father's name seems to have been Ralph. It is generally thought that he was a native of Saham Toney, Norfolk. 1

Early History of the Sams family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sams research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1510, 1600, 1636 and 1679 are included under the topic Early Sams History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sams Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Sames, Sams, Sammes, Samms, Sam, Same, Samme and others.

Early Notables of the Sams family

Another 37 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sams Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sams Ranking

In the United States, the name Sams is the 1,999^th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 2

Sams migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Sams or a variant listed above were:

Sams Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Sams, who landed in Salem, Massachusetts in 1638 3
Margaret Sams, who arrived in Maryland in 1652 3

Sams Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

George Sams, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 3
Richard Sams, who arrived in Virginia in 1712 3

Sams Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Jose Sams, who arrived in Puerto Rico in 1855 3
Mike Sams, who landed in Texas in 1876 3
Frank Sams, aged 39, who landed in America from Bremen, in 1892
Kathie Sams, aged 11, who immigrated to the United States from Bremen, in 1892
Mrs. H. H. Sams, aged 20, who immigrated to the United States, in 1892
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sams Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

James Sams, aged 27, who settled in America from Southampton, in 1904
Christiana Sams, aged 29, who immigrated to America from Somerset, in 1905
William Henry B. Sams, aged 34, who landed in America from London, England, in 1906
Laret Sams, aged 13, who settled in America from St. Kitts, British West Indies, in 1910
Edward Henry Sams, aged 31, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1911
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sams migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sams Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Peter Sams, aged 27, who immigrated to Winnepeg, Canada, in 1911

Sams migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Sams Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Sams, British convict who was convicted in Essex, England for life, transported aboard the "Asia" on 29th September 1831, settling in New South Wales, Australia 4
William Sams, English convict from Essex, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on November 13, 1832, settling in New South Wales, Australia 5
Mr. William Sams, British Convict who was convicted in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eden" on 12th March 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) 6
Mr. John Sams, English agricultural labourer who was convicted in Essex, England for life, transported aboard the "David Malcolm" on 13th May 1845, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) and Norfolk Island, he died in 1887 7
Mr. John Sams, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bangalore" on 28th March 1848, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) from Bermuda 8

Contemporary Notables of the name Sams (post 1700) +

Sheri Lynette Sams, American professional basketball player
Ronald Sams, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Delaware, 2008 9
Oliver N. Sams, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Ohio, 1904 9
Michael S. Sams, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates 9th District, 1992 9
Janice G. Sams, American politician, Socialist Workers Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1984 9
James Sams, American politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 2012 9
I. D. Sams, American politician, Mayor of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, 1952-53 9
H. William Sams, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Georgia, 1972 9
David Ronald Sams (b. 1958), American Republican politician, Candidate for Governor of California, 2003 9
Clif Sams (b. 1940), American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Colorado, 2004, 2008 9
... (Another 9 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1831
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Andromeda voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1832 with 186 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1832
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th December 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eden
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st June 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/david-malcolm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bangalore
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html