Contents [hide]

Sansom History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Sansom History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The surname Sansom is a name that came to England in the 11th century wave of migration that was set off by the Norman Conquest of 1066. Sansom 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 Sansom family

The surname Sansom 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 Sansom family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sansom 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 Sansom History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sansom Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years the English language had no fixed system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations occurred commonly in Anglo Norman surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Sansom were recorded, including Sampson, Samson and others.

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

Sansom Ranking

In the United States, the name Sansom is the 8,168^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 6

Migration of the Sansom family to Ireland

Some of the Sansom 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.

Sansom migration to the United States +

The unstable environment in England at this time caused numerous families to board ships and leave in search of opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad in places like Ireland, Australia, and particularly the New World. The voyage was extremely difficult, however, and only taken at great expense. The cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels caused many to arrive diseased and starving, not to mention destitute from the enormous cost. Still opportunity in the emerging nations of Canada and the United States was far greater than at home and many went on to make important contributions to the cultures of their adopted countries. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Sansom arrived in North America very early:

Sansom Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Mr. William Sansom, (Samon), (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler listed with the Stanley family travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Elizabeth and Anne" arriving in Massachusetts Bay (Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire) in 1635 7
Thomas Sansom, who arrived in Virginia in 1658 8
John Sansom, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1682 8
Francis Sansom, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1684 8

Sansom Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Samuel Sansom, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1732 8
William Sansom, who landed in America in 1765 8

Sansom Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Sansom, who arrived in New York in 1802 8

Sansom migration to Australia +

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

Sansom Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Sansom, English convict who was convicted in Surrey, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 20th May 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Mr. Thomas Sansom, British Convict who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Dunvegan Castle" on 13th March 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
William Sansom, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 11
Elizabeth Sansom, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 11
George Sansom, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Asia" in 1839 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sansom 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:

Sansom Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Robert Sansom, aged 31, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tyne" in 1841
Ann Sansom, aged 32, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tyne" in 1841

Contemporary Notables of the name Sansom (post 1700) +

William L. Sansom, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1912; Candidate for Pennsylvania State Senate 26th District, 1926; Chair of Clarion County Democratic Party, 1927
Ray Sansom (b. 1962), American Republican politician, Member of Florida State House of Representatives 4th District, 2003
Mary Sansom, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 1996
L. G. Sansom, American politician, Member of West Virginia State House of Delegates from Wayne County, 1915-16
Dixie Newton Sansom (b. 1948), American Republican politician, Newspaper reporter; Member of Florida State House of Representatives, 1984-92; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Florida, 1988
Cooper Sansom, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Texas, 1912
Emma Sansom (1847-1900), Alabama farmgirl noted for her bravery during the American Civil War, eponym of Emma Sansom Middle School
Arthur B. Sansom (1920-1991), American comic strip cartoonist
Ray Sansom (b. 1962), American member of the Florida House of Representatives
Kenneth Graham Sansom (b. 1958), English former footballer
... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Sansom 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
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 24th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dunvegan-castle
State Library of South Australia. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) ASIA 1839 from London with Captain Benjamin Freeman and 245 passengers, arrived Port Adelaide on 16-07-1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Asia-list.htm