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Semmens History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Semmens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The distinguished surname Semmens is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It is derived from the Old English "saemann," meaning "sea-man," and was likely first borne by a sailor. "Sæmann occurs in Domesday-Book. Seman is the usual 13th-cent [version of the name] Occasionally this name may represent the Anglo-Saxon Saemund [Old English sae, sea+mund, protector] and Sigemund [Old English sige, victory]" 1

"In the Domesday of Surrey there is a Seman, who held lands before the making of that record. Anglo-Saxon Sae-mann, a sailor." 2

Early Origins of the Semmens family

The surname Semmens was first found in Suffolk, where the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list: Seman de Reston; Seman le Carpenter; Seman Eche; and Robert filius Seman at that time. The first record of the family was listed in Hodgson's History of Northumberland where John filius Semanni was listed there in 1169. 3

Kirby's Quest lists Seman le Collar in Somerset, 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward's reign.) 4

Later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 list Robertus Saymon. 3

Early History of the Semmens family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Semmens research. Another 95 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1044, 1273, 1606, 1628, 1675 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Semmens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Semmens Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Seaman, Seamom, Semon, Seman, Seamons, Semones and many more.

Early Notables of the Semmens family

Distinguished members of the family include William Seaman (1606-1680), English Orientalist, first translator of the New Testament into Turkish. In 1628 he became rector of Upton-Scudamore, a living in the gift of Queen's College, Oxford, which he held up to the time of his death. Lazarus Seaman (died 1675), was an English Puritan divine, a native of Leicester, where he was born...
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Semmens Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Semmens migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Semmens Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Charles Semmens, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 5
George Semmens, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 5
Thomas Semmens, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 5
Ms. Grace Semmens, (b. 1852), aged 40, American returning from Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Britannic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 19th February 1892 en route to Kansas, USA 6
Mr. John Semmens, (b. 1878), aged 21, Cornish miner, from Carnkie, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Paris" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 6th May 1899 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA 6

Semmens Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. Joseph Semmens, (b. 1884), aged 19, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 2nd August 1903 en route to Crystal Falls, Michigan, USA 6
Mr. John Semmens, (b. 1873), aged 30, Cornish labourer travelling aboard the ship "Philadelphia" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 31st October 1903 en route to Calumet, Michigan, USA 6
Miss Lillie Semmens, (b. 1880), aged 25, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "St Paul" arriving at Ellis Island, New York in 1905 en route to Globe, Arizona, USA 6

Semmens migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Semmens Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John Semmens, age 10, who settled in Canada in 1860

Semmens migration to Australia +

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

Semmens Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Thomas Semmens, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Santipore" in 1848 7
John Semmens, aged 26, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Caucasian" 8
George Semmens, aged 22, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Velocity"
Martha Semmens, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Velocity"
Mr. John P. Semmens, (b. 1835), aged 20, Cornish blacksmith departing from Plymouth on 27th October 1854 aboard the ship "Shand" arriving in Portland, Victoria, Australia on 20th January 1855 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Semmens migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Semmens Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. William Semmens, (b. 1854), aged 21, Cornish market gardener departing on 13th December 1875 aboard the ship "Brodick Castle" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 24th March 1876 10
Miss Elizabeth A. Semmens, (b. 1861), aged 23, Cornish dressmaker departing on 30th June 1884 aboard the ship "Florida" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 23rd August 1884 11

Contemporary Notables of the name Semmens (post 1700) +

Dean Semmens (b. 1979), Australian water polo player at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Elle Semmens (b. 1991), Australian association footballer

Citations +

Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SANTIPORE 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848Santipore.htm
South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BARQUE CAUCASIAN 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/caucasian1852.shtml
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_victoria.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Auckland 1872-80 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf