Semon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The distinguished surname Semon 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 Semon family

The surname Semon 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 Semon family

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

Semon Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Semon 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 Semon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Semon Ranking

In the United States, the name Semon is the 16,357^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 5

Semon migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Semon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Semon, who arrived in America in 1809 6
Arthur Semon, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1864 6
Justin Semon, who landed in Kentucky in 1887 6

Semon Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Johannis Xirhsimonis Semon, who landed in Alabama in 1926 6
John Semon, who arrived in Alabama in 1926 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Semon (post 1700) +

Semon Rohloff (b. 1970), Australian former synchronized swimmer, who competed in the 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics
Semon "Bunkie" Knudsen (1912-1998), American automobile industry executive, instrumental in developing the Pontiac Grand Prix, and developing a larger Mustang, son of William S. Knudsen

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.
"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)