NameCensus.

UK surname

Samuel

A surname of Hebrew origin meaning "name of God" or "God has heard."

In the 1881 census there were 3,580 people recorded with the Samuel surname, ranking it #1,262 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,382, ranked #1,058, up from #1,262 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Edinburgh and Merthyr Tydfil. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire and Powys.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Samuel is 6,588 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78.3%.

1881 census count

3,580

Ranked #1,262

Modern count

6,382

2016, ranked #1,058

Peak year

2010

6,588 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Samuel had 3,580 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,262 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,382 in 2016, ranked #1,058.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,173 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Samuel surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Samuel surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Samuel 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 2,977 #973
1861 historical 3,254 #883
1881 historical 3,580 #1,262
1891 historical 3,931 #1,222
1901 historical 4,080 #1,382
1911 historical 4,173 #1,242
1997 modern 5,249 #1,243
1998 modern 5,426 #1,252
1999 modern 5,456 #1,255
2000 modern 5,449 #1,253
2001 modern 5,296 #1,255
2002 modern 5,562 #1,222
2003 modern 5,501 #1,205
2004 modern 5,586 #1,175
2005 modern 5,669 #1,146
2006 modern 5,807 #1,123
2007 modern 5,992 #1,100
2008 modern 6,083 #1,089
2009 modern 6,289 #1,078
2010 modern 6,588 #1,052
2011 modern 6,362 #1,075
2012 modern 6,245 #1,073
2013 modern 6,423 #1,059
2014 modern 6,467 #1,059
2015 modern 6,406 #1,057
2016 modern 6,382 #1,058

Geography

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Where Samuels are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Edinburgh, Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare and Bedwelty. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Neath Port Talbot, Carmarthenshire, Powys, Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
4 Aberdare Glamorganshire
5 Bedwelty Monmouthshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Neath Port Talbot 014 Neath Port Talbot
2 Carmarthenshire 023 Carmarthenshire
3 Powys 014 Powys
4 Bridgend 004 Bridgend
5 Rhondda Cynon Taf 005 Rhondda Cynon Taf

Forenames

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First names often paired with Samuel

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Samuel

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Samuel, 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 Samuel 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 Samuel 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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Samuel is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Samuel 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

Samuel 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 Samuel 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
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Samuel

The surname Samuel originates from the Hebrew name Shemuel, meaning "name of God" or "heard by God." It is believed to have originated in ancient Israel, around the 11th century BC, during the period of the biblical judges.

The earliest known bearer of the name was the prophet Samuel, who lived in the late 11th century BC and played a crucial role in the establishment of the Hebrew monarchy. He is mentioned extensively in the Book of Samuel, one of the historical books of the Hebrew Bible.

The name Samuel can be found in various ancient texts and manuscripts, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, which date back to the 3rd century BC. It is also mentioned in the Mishnah, a collection of rabbinical teachings compiled around 200 AD.

During the Middle Ages, the name Samuel was commonly found among Jewish communities across Europe and the Middle East. One notable bearer was Samuel Hannagid (993-1056), a celebrated Jewish scholar, poet, and statesman from Andalusian Spain.

As the name spread throughout Europe, it took on various spellings and variations, such as Samuels, Samwell, and Samuele, reflecting regional linguistic influences.

In England, the surname Samuel can be traced back to the 13th century, with records showing individuals bearing the name, such as William Samuel, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1221.

Notable individuals with the surname Samuel throughout history include:

1. Sir Marcus Samuel (1853-1927), a British businessman and the founder of the Shell Transport and Trading Company. 2. Adolphe Samuel (1824-1898), a French banker and philanthropist who played a significant role in the development of the Suez Canal project. 3. Herbert Louis Samuel (1870-1963), a British politician and diplomat who served as the first High Commissioner of Palestine from 1920 to 1925. 4. John Samuel (1572-1631), an English explorer and navigator who is credited with publishing one of the earliest descriptions of the Pacific Ocean. 5. Raphael Samuel (1934-1996), a British historian and pioneering scholar in the field of cultural studies.

While the surname Samuel has its roots in ancient Hebrew, it has been adopted and adapted by various cultures and communities around the world, reflecting the rich tapestry of human migration and cultural exchange.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Samuel families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Samuel 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. Glamorgan leads with 811 Samuels recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.36x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 811 13.36x
Carmarthenshire 462 31.43x
Middlesex 457 1.31x
Monmouthshire 188 7.46x
Midlothian 163 3.49x
Lancashire 145 0.35x
Lanarkshire 131 1.16x
Brecknockshire 108 15.49x
Bedfordshire 93 5.15x
Essex 90 1.31x
Cardiganshire 81 9.52x
Durham 73 0.70x
Surrey 73 0.43x
West Lothian 67 12.76x
Montgomeryshire 48 6.01x
Kent 43 0.36x
Cambridgeshire 40 1.81x
Yorkshire 35 0.10x
Denbighshire 29 2.20x
East Lothian 28 6.06x
Cheshire 27 0.35x
Pembrokeshire 27 2.44x
Warwickshire 27 0.31x
Stirlingshire 26 2.02x
Hertfordshire 24 1.00x
Aberdeenshire 23 0.71x
Radnorshire 21 7.46x
Hampshire 20 0.28x
Shropshire 16 0.53x
Caernarfonshire 15 1.06x
Staffordshire 15 0.13x
Derbyshire 13 0.24x
Merionethshire 13 2.04x
Nottinghamshire 12 0.26x
Suffolk 12 0.28x
Sussex 11 0.19x
Ayrshire 10 0.38x
Lincolnshire 9 0.16x
Renfrewshire 9 0.33x
Gloucestershire 8 0.12x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.28x
Cornwall 6 0.15x
Norfolk 6 0.11x
Angus 5 0.15x
Flintshire 5 0.53x
Peeblesshire 5 3.05x
Herefordshire 4 0.28x
Leicestershire 4 0.10x
Northamptonshire 4 0.12x
Worcestershire 4 0.09x
Cumberland 3 0.10x
Devon 3 0.04x
Dunbartonshire 2 0.21x
Northumberland 2 0.04x
Oxfordshire 2 0.09x
Roxburghshire 2 0.32x
Anglesey 1 0.16x
Banffshire 1 0.14x
Berwickshire 1 0.24x
Dorset 1 0.04x
Fife 1 0.05x
Isle of Man 1 0.15x
Perthshire 1 0.06x
Somerset 1 0.02x
Westmorland 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Llanelly in Carmarthenshire leads with 275 Samuels recorded in 1881 and an index of 83.07x.

Place Total Index
Llanelly 275 83.07x
Ystradyfodwg 121 22.72x
Merthyr Tydfil 106 18.16x
Aberdare 79 18.95x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 65 3.46x
Leighton Buzzard 63 81.10x
Paddington London 54 4.21x
Bedwellty 53 11.91x
Llanguick 53 48.72x
Bethnal Green London 45 2.97x
Swansea Town 45 9.04x
Clase 44 19.49x
Islington London 41 1.21x
Govan 38 1.36x
St Pancras London 38 1.35x
Mile End Old Town 36 6.54x
Pembrey 34 50.30x
Liverpool 32 1.27x
Barony 30 1.05x
Llanfihangel 28 264.15x
Cardiff St Mary 27 8.07x
Kirkliston 26 84.88x
Stockton On Tees 26 5.20x
Toxteth Park 26 1.86x
Llanwonno 25 11.46x
Hackney London 24 1.23x
St Marylebone London 24 1.29x
Carmarthen St Peter 23 18.31x
Glasgow 23 1.15x
Aberystruth 22 9.90x
Kensington London 22 1.13x
St John Near Swansea 21 27.97x
Llanfair Caereinion 20 73.29x
West Ham 20 1.32x
St Botolph Aldgate 19 39.91x
Bromley London 18 2.35x
Mountnessing 18 172.25x
Neath 18 14.57x
South Leith 18 3.42x
Bishopwearmouth 17 1.91x
Llandaff 17 8.42x
South Mimms 17 35.55x
St Woollos 17 6.04x
West Derby 17 1.40x
Bathgate 16 14.03x
Llangadock 16 39.49x
Peterhead 16 9.37x
Radyr 16 258.06x
Dalkeith 15 16.27x
Deptford St Paul 15 1.63x
Llanrhidian Higher 15 38.89x
Llanvihangel Llantarnam 15 31.20x
Whitchurch 15 45.68x
Wrexham Regis 15 15.33x
Ynisymond 15 297.03x
Cardiff St John 14 7.06x
Llanafan Fawr 14 181.58x
Llangennech 14 59.47x
Llantrisant 14 9.15x
Aberystwith 13 17.75x
Barrow In Furness 13 2.31x
Briton Ferry 13 17.94x
Chelsea London 13 1.24x
Hauxton 13 423.45x
Lambeth 13 0.43x
Newington 13 1.01x
Pencoed 13 138.89x
Edgbaston 12 4.40x
Hornsey 12 2.72x
Llanafan Fechan 12 652.17x
Sawston 12 56.31x
Spitalfields London 12 4.57x
Talgarth 12 69.52x
Chatham 11 3.36x
Currie 11 38.46x
St George Bloomsbury 11 5.50x
Sunderland 11 6.00x
Vainor Upper 11 265.06x
Carriden 10 42.02x
Gelligaer 10 7.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 244
Elizabeth 134
Sarah 103
Ann 78
Margaret 74
Jane 69
Catherine 43
Hannah 37
Anne 33
Rachel 30
Eliza 28
Martha 28
Emily 24
Annie 23
Maria 22
Alice 20
Emma 20
Esther 19
Ellen 18
Fanny 15
Louisa 15
Kate 14
Rebecca 14
Florence 13
Caroline 12
Clara 11
Edith 10
Ruth 10
Eleanor 9
Frances 9
Harriet 9
Miriam 9
Cathrine 8
Lucy 8
Lydia 8
Susan 8
Ada 7
Agnes 7
Amelia 7
Charlotte 7
Elizth. 6
Jessie 6
Julia 6
Margaretta 6
Minnie 6
Beatrice 5
Bertha 5
Harriett 5
Rosa 5
Rose 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 185
William 181
Thomas 140
David 133
Henry 52
Edward 49
George 43
James 43
Samuel 36
Charles 35
Joseph 35
Richard 25
Evan 23
Arthur 22
Daniel 21
Alfred 20
Benjamin 17
Isaac 17
Robert 17
Albert 13
Jacob 11
Wm. 11
Walter 10
Harry 9
Lewis 9
Noah 8
Abraham 7
Frederick 7
Rees 7
Edgar 6
Ernest 6
Herbert 6
Phillip 6
Simon 6
Edwin 5
Griffith 5
Louis 5
Solomon 5
Barnett 4
Elias 4
Frank 4
Mathew 4
Michael 4
Morris 4
Nathan 4
Philip 4
Thos. 4
Edmund 3
Jonathan 3
Josiah 3

FAQ

Samuel surname: questions and answers

How common was the Samuel surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,580 people were recorded with the Samuel surname. That placed it at #1,262 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Samuel surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,382 in 2016. That gives Samuel a modern rank of #1,058.

What does the Samuel surname mean?

A surname of Hebrew origin meaning "name of God" or "God has heard."

What does the Samuel map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Samuel 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.