Show ContentsSemper History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Semper family

The surname Semper was first found in Essex where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Norman influence on English history dominated after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. The family name, descended from St.Perre de Semilly in Manche where they held the Castle of that name, was first referenced in the 11th century year. They branched north into Shropshire by the year 1273 where Urian de St.Petro succeeded to the estates. Sir Urian was knighted in 1306. Within the next 50 years the name Seyntpier emerged which later was often changed to Semper.

Early History of the Semper family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Semper research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Semper History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Semper Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: St Pierre, St Pere, Sepmer, Sempar, Simper, Sempyer, St Peere, Sampere, Samper, Simpier and many more.

Early Notables of the Semper family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • the Semper family of Essex

Migration of the Semper family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..


Contemporary Notables of the name Semper (post 1700) +

  • John Semper, American screenwriter, producer and story editor
  • Colin Douglas Semper (1938-2022), Anglican priest, Provost of Coventry Cathedral (1982–1987)
  • Johannes Semper (1892-1970), Estonian writer and translator
  • Georg Semper (1837-1909), German entomologist
  • Carl Semper (1832-1893), German ethnologist
  • Gottfried Semper (1803-1879), German architect, art critic, professor of architecture, designer of the Semper Opera House in Dresden


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