NameCensus.

UK surname

Sam

A surname of Hebrew origin meaning "his name is God" or "told by God."

In the 1881 census there were 19 people recorded with the Sam surname, ranking it #30,872 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,027, ranked #5,681, up from #30,872 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Greenwich, Northampton and Enfield.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sam is 1,027 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5305.3%.

1881 census count

19

Ranked #30,872

Modern count

1,027

2016, ranked #5,681

Peak year

2016

1,027 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sam had 19 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #30,872 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,027 in 2016, ranked #5,681.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 30 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Sam surname distribution map

The map shows where the Sam surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Sam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sam over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 22 #29,378
1881 historical 19 #30,872
1891 historical 2 #34,436
1901 historical 30 #30,724
1997 modern 284 #14,006
1998 modern 280 #14,550
1999 modern 298 #14,026
2000 modern 314 #13,516
2001 modern 310 #13,452
2002 modern 360 #12,360
2003 modern 387 #11,523
2004 modern 414 #11,005
2005 modern 457 #10,100
2006 modern 490 #9,613
2007 modern 533 #9,113
2008 modern 559 #8,844
2009 modern 627 #8,307
2010 modern 667 #8,082
2011 modern 686 #7,811
2012 modern 761 #7,148
2013 modern 860 #6,569
2014 modern 922 #6,268
2015 modern 959 #6,018
2016 modern 1,027 #5,681

Geography

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Where Sams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Greenwich, Northampton, Enfield and Chichester. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Greenwich 015 Greenwich
2 Greenwich 002 Greenwich
3 Northampton 016 Northampton
4 Enfield 012 Enfield
5 Chichester 004 Chichester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sam

These lists show first names that appear often with the Sam surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sam

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sam, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Sam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Sam household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Sam is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sam is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Sam falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
Asian - Chinese

This describes the area pattern most associated with Sam, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sam

The surname "Sam" has its origins in the Middle East, specifically in the region known as the Levant, which includes modern-day countries such as Syria, Lebanon, and parts of Turkey. It is believed to have derived from the Arabic word "sam," which means "dark" or "brown."

The earliest recorded instances of the name "Sam" can be traced back to the 12th century, where it appeared in various historical documents and manuscripts from the region. One notable example is the "Kitab al-Ansab" (Book of Genealogies), written by the renowned Muslim scholar and historian, al-Sam'ani, in the late 11th century.

During the medieval era, the name "Sam" was particularly prevalent among the Druze community, an ethnoreligious group that originated in the mountainous regions of Syria and Lebanon. It was also found in various place names, such as the town of Samarra in modern-day Iraq, which was founded in the 9th century during the Abbasid Caliphate.

As trade and migration patterns evolved, the name "Sam" spread to other parts of the world, including Europe and the Americas. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name in Europe can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named "Samson" in the county of Gloucestershire, England, which may have been an anglicized form of the name "Sam."

Throughout history, several notable figures have borne the surname "Sam," including:

1. Sam Ervin (1896-1985), an American politician and lawyer who served as a U.S. Senator from North Carolina and gained national prominence during the Watergate scandal. 2. Sam Cooke (1931-1964), an influential American singer and songwriter widely regarded as one of the pioneers of soul music. 3. Sam Gilliam (born 1933), an American artist known for his innovative approach to abstract expressionism and his use of draped and stained canvases. 4. Sam Maloof (1916-2009), an American woodworker and furniture designer renowned for his exceptional craftsmanship and contributions to the American Studio Furniture Movement. 5. Sam Esmail (born 1977), an American writer, producer, and director best known for creating the critically acclaimed television series "Mr. Robot."

While the surname "Sam" has its roots in the Middle East, it has since become a part of various cultures and communities around the world, with each region potentially adding its unique historical and cultural significance to the name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sam surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Nottinghamshire leads with 6 Sams recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.85x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 6 22.85x
Bedfordshire 4 39.64x
Royal Navy 2 86.21x
Caernarfonshire 1 12.69x
Devon 1 2.47x
Essex 1 2.60x
Glamorgan 1 2.95x
Hertfordshire 1 7.45x
Kent 1 1.50x
Lancashire 1 0.43x
Middlesex 1 0.51x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 6 Sams recorded in 1881 and an index of 88.37x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 6 88.37x
Luton 4 228.57x
Royal Navy 2 101.01x
Cardiff St Mary 1 53.48x
Devonport 1 212.77x
East Ham 1 140.85x
Greenwich 1 32.26x
Hatfield 1 370.37x
Liverpool 1 7.12x
Llanbeblig 1 125.00x
Westminster St John 1 42.19x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sam surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Fanny 2
Mary 2
Annie 1
Elizabeth 1
Emma 1
Hannah 1
Leah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sam surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Ah 5
John 2
Blythe 1
Edward 1
Henry 1
Joseph 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Sam households.

FAQ

Sam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 19 people were recorded with the Sam surname. That placed it at #30,872 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sam surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,027 in 2016. That gives Sam a modern rank of #5,681.

What does the Sam surname mean?

A surname of Hebrew origin meaning "his name is God" or "told by God."

What does the Sam map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sam bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.