Contents [hide]

Samson History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Citations

Samson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

The name Samson is from Normandy, France. 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

Another source claims the name to be derived from the Hebrew given name Shemuel, meaning the name of God.

Early Origins of the Samson family

The surname Samson was first found in Normandy (French: Normandie), the former Duchy of Normandy, where this distinguished family held a family seat at Saint-Clair-Sur-Elle in Manche in the arrondissement of St.Lô, where one Ricardi Samsonis, the Latin name for Richard Sampson is described in a charter to Philip the Bishop of Bayeux in 1142, and he is named as occupant of the castle of Saint-Clair. 2

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

Early History of the Samson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Samson research. Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Samson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Samson Spelling Variations

French surnames were subject to numerous spelling alterations depending on the region and time it was used. The early development of the French language relied heavily on borrowing elements and grammar from other languages. For example, Old French was infused with Germanic words and sounds when barbarian tribes invaded and settled in France after the fall of the Roman Empire. Middle French also borrowed heavily from the Italian language during the Renaissance. As a result of these linguistic and cultural influences, the name Samson is distinguished by a number of regional variations. The many spelling variations of the name include Samson, Samsons, Samsone, Samso, Samsun, Samsoen, Sampsoen, Sampson, Sampsonis and many more.

Early Notables of the Samson family

Notable amongst the family in this period was

Samson of Normandy

Samson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Samson is the 3,120^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Samson is ranked the 427^th most popular surname with an estimated 10,982 people with that name. 5 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Samson is the 264^th popular surname. 6 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Samson as 315^th with 146 people. 7 France ranks Samson as 523^rd with 8,685 people. 8

Samson migration to the United States +

In 1643, 109 years after the first landings by Cartier, there were only about 300 people in Quebec, in 1663 there were only 500, 2,000 migrants arrived during the next decade. Early marriage was desperately encouraged amongst the immigrants. Youths of 18 took fourteen-year-old girls for their wives. The fur trade was developed and attracted migrants, both noble and commoner from France. 15,000 explorers left Montreal in the late 17th and 18th centuries. Migration from France to New France or Quebec as it was now more popularly called, continued from France until it fell in 1759. By 1675, there were 7000 French in Quebec. By the same year the Acadian presence in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island had reached 500. In 1755, 10,000 French Acadians refused to take an oath of allegiance to England and were deported to Louisiana. Meanwhile, in Quebec, the French race flourished, founding in Lower Canada, one of the two great solitudes which became Canada. Many distinguished contributions have been made by members of this family name Samson. It has been prominent in the arts, religion, politics and culture in France and New France. Amongst the settlers in North America with this distinguished name Samson were

Samson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Henry Samson, (1603-1684), who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 aboard the ship "Mayflower" 9
Abraham Samson, who landed in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1629-1630 9
Richard Samson, aged 28, who landed in New England in 1635 9
Mary Samson, who arrived in Virginia in 1695 9
James Samson, who landed in Virginia in 1695 9

Samson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Daniell Samson, who arrived in New York in 1715 9
Guy Samson, who arrived in Louisiana in 1718-1724 9
Pierre Samson, aged 35, who arrived in Louisiana in 1720 9
Archibald Samson, who landed in Mississippi in 1798 9
John Samson, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1798

Samson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Charlemagne Samson, who settled in New Orleans La. in 1823
Joseph Samson, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1842 9
Margaret Samson, who arrived in New York, NY in 1845 9
Samuel Samson, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1848 9
Samuel Samson, who landed in New York State in 1849 with his wife and four children
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Samson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Samson Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century

Louis Samson, who arrived in Quebec from Normandy in 1664
Louis Samson, son of Nicolas and Françoise, who married Marthe Ragau, daughter of Simon and Françoise, in Quebec on 26th February 1664 10
Jacques and Gabriel Samson, who arrived in Quebec from Normandy in 1666
Gabriel Samson, son of Toussaint and Catherine, who married Françoise Durand, daughter of Martin and Françoise, in Quebec on 29th November 1669 10
Jacques Samson, son of Toussaint and Catherine, who married Marie-Anne Metru, daughter of Claude and Jeanne, in Quebec on 26th November 1671 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Samson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Ignace Samson, son of Jacques and Anne, who married Madeleine Hubert, daughter of François and Marie, in Quebec on 26th January 1711 10
Etienne Samson, son of Jacuqes and Anne, who married Angélique Guay, daughter of Ignace and Perrine, in Lévis, Quebec on 9th June 1718 10
Antoine Samson, son of Antoine and Catherine-Angélique, who married Marie-Louise Jeanne, daughter of Martin and Marie, in Quebec on 21st November 1734 10
Etienne Samson, son of Jean-Baptiste and Charlotte, who married Madeleine Charon, daughter of Jean-Baptiste and Geneviève, in Beaumont, Quebec on 3rd February 1739 10
André-Joseph Samson, son of Joseph and Catherine, who married Marthe Adam, daughter of Ignace and Suzanne, in Beaumont, Quebec on 27th January 1755 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Samson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Agnes Samson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1848
Jane Samson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1848
Margaret Samson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1848
Peter Samson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1848
Robert Samson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1848

Samson migration to Australia +

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

Samson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Richard Samson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sir Edward Parry" in 1849 11

Samson 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:

Samson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

William Samson, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ashburton" in 1857
Ann Samson, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ashburton" in 1857
James Samson, aged 33, a miner, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Helenslee" in 1864 12
Marion Samson, aged 35, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Helenslee" in 1864 12
David Samson, aged 12, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Helenslee" in 1864 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Samson (post 1700) +

David Samson (b. 1939), American politician, New Jersey Attorney General (2002 to 2003)
Peter R. Samson (b. 1941), American computer scientist
Robert H. Samson (b. 1876), American Democratic Party politician, Barber; Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Glastonbury, 1919-20 13
Ray Samson, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Florida, 2008 13
John S. Samson, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Nebraska, 1944, 1952, 1960 13
J. L. Samson, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Dallas, Texas, 1848-49 13
George E. Samson, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Connecticut State House of Representatives from Glastonbury, 1896 13
Bruce Samson, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Montana State Senate 35th District, 2010 13
Stéphane Samson (b. 1975), French football striker
Joseph Isidore Samson (1793-1871), French actor and playwright
... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

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)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 2, Institut Drouin, 1958.
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SIR EDWARD PARRY 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849SirEdwardParry.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html