Samm History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The surname Samm is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was set off by the Norman Conquest of 1066. Samm comes from the Norman personal name Samson. As with the French version of the name, the root name Sanson or Samson is an Old French name given to "a Welsh bishop (fl. 550) who crossed over to Brittany and founded the abbey of Dol where he was buried and venerated as a saint. Whether his name is the Biblical Samson or one of Celtic origin is uncertain. Probably from Saint-Samson (Seine-Inférieure), or from Saint-Samson (Calvados), Saint-Samson-de-Bonfosse (La Manche) or Saint-Samson-de-la-Roque (Eure)." 1

Early Origins of the Samm family

The surname Samm was first found in Gloucestershire, but the family was quickly scattered throughout Britain as they claim descendancy from "De St. Sampson, from the lordship near Caen, Normandy. Ralph de St. Sansom accompanied the Conqueror, and [by] 1086 held estates in several counties. William Sampson, his descendant, was summoned to Parliament as a Baron 1297-1304. " 2

"A well-known monastery near Rouen was built by the Archbishop of Dol, known as St. Sansone or St. Sampson." 3

Sanson is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, but the entry does not list what county. 4 As a forename, Samson, Sansone, Sampson Takel was listed in Lincolnshire and Samson Cornuwala was found in Yorkshire c. 1170. The Pipe Rolls of 1130 for Nottinghamshire lists Hugo Samson as holding lands there at that time. In Lancashire, Philip Sampson was listed there in 1192 and in Somerset, we found Hemericus Samsun in the Curia Regis Rolls for 1221. 1

"The name was popular in Yorkshire and the eastern counties where it was introduced by the Bretons after the Conquest, and also in the Welsh border counties where it no doubt came from Wales." 1

Interestingly, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 includes only entries for the name as a forename: Sansum le Rus, Cambridgeshire; Samson de Baterford, Bedfordshire; and Sampson de Boxe, Wiltshire. 3

Samsom (died 1112), was and English divine, Bishop of Worcester, born at Douvres near Caen, was the son of Osbert and Muriel, who were of noble lineage.

Samsom (1135-1211), was Abbot of St. Edmund's, born at Tottington, near Thetford in Norfolk. "When nine years old he was taken by his mother on a pilgrimage to St. Edmund's. 'As a poor clerk,' he received gratuitous instruction from a schoolmaster named William of Diss. " 5

Early History of the Samm family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Samm research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1112, 1517, 1554, 1589, 1590, 1600, 1612, 1627, 1629, 1636, 1667, 1668, 1680, 1700, 1736, 1756, 1769 and 1777 are included under the topic Early Samm History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Samm Spelling Variations

Multitudes of spelling variations are a hallmark of Anglo Norman names. Most of these names evolved in the 11th and 12th century, in the time after the Normans introduced their own Norman French language into a country where Old and Middle English had no spelling rules and the languages of the court were French and Latin. To make matters worse, medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, so names frequently appeared differently in the various documents in which they were recorded. The name was spelled Sampson, Samson and others.

Early Notables of the Samm family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was Nicolas Sanson (1600-1667), a French cartographer of Scottish descent; William Sampson (1590?-1636?), an English dramatist from Retford, Nottinghamshire; and his son, Henry Sampson (1629?-1700), an English nonconformist minister and physician. Born at South Leverton, Nottinghamshire, and after the Restoration, he preached for some time privately at Framlingham, and founded an independent congregation, which still exists. Turning to medicine, he studied at Padua and at Leyden, where he graduated M.D. on 12 July 1668. He practised in London, and was admitted an honorary fellow of the College of Physicians on 30 Sept. 1680. 5Richard...
Another 100 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Samm Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Samm family to Ireland

Some of the Samm family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Samm migration to the United States +

Because of this political and religious unrest within English society, many people decided to immigrate to the colonies. Families left for Ireland, North America, and Australia in enormous numbers, traveling at high cost in extremely inhospitable conditions. The New World in particular was a desirable destination, but the long voyage caused many to arrive sick and starving. Those who made it, though, were welcomed by opportunities far greater than they had known at home in England. Many of these families went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Samm or a variant listed above:

Samm Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hans Jorig Samm, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 6
Nicolas Samm, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 6
Adam Samm, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1752 6
Friederich Samm, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1752 6

Samm Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Guillaumette Samm, aged 44, who arrived in New York, NY in 1848 6
Diedrich Samm, aged 49, who landed in New York, NY in 1848 6
Emilie Samm, aged 14, who arrived in New York, NY in 1848 6
Marie Samm, aged 2, who arrived in New York, NY in 1848 6

The Samm Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Pejus letho flagitium
Motto Translation: Disgrace is worse than Death.

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. 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)