Surname Samples - Meaning and Origin

The Profound Journey of Discovery: Navigating the Pathways of My iGENEA DNA Test Results

A deeper understanding of one's heritage can often ignite a newfound sense of self. The iGENEA DNA test did just that for me, unearthing an intricate tapestry of cultural influences, historical migrations, and shared ancestral traits that underpinned my family identity. My surname, "Samples", seems to resonate more deeply, becoming a symbol of our shared stories, cultures, and struggles passed on through centuries.

I. Samples

Samples: What does the surname Samples mean?

The last name Samples is of Scottish origin and is considered a variant of the surname Semple, Sempill, or Semphill. These surnames originated from the Scottish region of Renfrewshire, where the local locality of Sempill was the namesake. The meaning of the name is not confirmed. However, it's possibly derived from the Old English words "sa" and "hyll," meaning "sea hill," or "sæmpel," which denotes someone who is simple, humble, or unpretentious. The surname may also have originated as a nickname or occupational name. It is important to note that meanings of surnames can evolve over time and can also significantly depend on the cultural and regional contexts in which they were initially used.

Samples: Where does the name Samples come from?

The last name Samples is most common in the United States, particularly in the southern states of Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana. In the latest available data, Samples is the 2,489th most common name in The United States, with a population of over 900,000 people bearing the name.

The name can also be found in other English-speaking countries with significant populations in Canada and Australia. In the United Kingdom, it can be found in both Northern and Southern Ireland as well as in Scotland and England, with a smaller population of around 14,000 people.

Internationally, the name can be found in countries with large populations of immigrants from the United States or English-speaking countries, such as in Mexico, Brazil, and throughout Europe.

The origin of the name Samples is unknown, but it is believed to be from a nickname, possibly based on the Old French word "senepl", meaning "example" or "sample". It could also be from an occupational name for one who provided samples, such as fabric or other goods, to prospective buyers.

The geographic prevalence of the name Samples today reflects past English colonization and immigration patterns. In any case, the name Samples is currently very much alive and well.

Variations of the surname Samples

The surname Samples is an English surname derived from the Middle English word “sample,” meaning example or pattern. Variations of this surname include Sample, Sampel, Sampsun, Sampsell, Sampson, and Sampons.

The spelling of the surname Samples may have changed over time due to the variations found in different dialects. For example, the spelling Sampson is more commonly found in North America while Sampel can be found in England and Scotland.

The surname Samples is also found in other countries including Germany, where it is spelled Sample, and Austria where it is found as Sampel.

The surnames Sampson, Sample, and Sampsun can all be found in Ireland, while Sampsell and Sampons can both be found in the United States.

In addition to the various spelling variations, the surname Samples is also seen in many other forms such as Samples, Samplez, and Samplex.

No matter the spelling or variation, the surname Samples is still a popular surname and can be found all around the world. It is a testament to how many generations have been proud to carry on the Samples name.

Famous people with the name Samples

• Ken Samples: Ken Samples is a research scholar at the Christian apologetics ministry Reasons to Believe and is a fellow of the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. He is a known expert in the fields of Christian philosophy; comparative religion; and science and religion.
• Clive Samples: Clive Samples is a contemporary artist and sculptor whose abstract-surrealistic works are held in the permanent collections of the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, and the Seattle Art Museum.
• Jade Samples: Jade Samples is an American actress and singer best known for her lead roles in the films Southland, The Deep and The Virgin Suicides, the miniseries American Gothic and the television shows Masters of Horror and Hannibal.
• Amy Samples: Amy Samples is an American visual artist and photographer whose work focuses on documentary portraiture and the built environment. She has exhibited widely in galleries and festivals around the world and her work has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, TIME, and The Atlantic.
• Patrick Samples: Patrick Samples is a poet and fiction writer and associate professor of English at North Carolina State University. He is the author of two collections of poetry, The Great Indoors and The Art of Losing It, and a collection of short stories, A Pattern of Loss and Love.
• Justin Samples: Justin Samples is an American contemporary artist from the east coast whose works explore landscapes and how they are transformed by manmade processes, from abstracted depictions of land to interactive sculptures that move along with the wind.

Other surnames

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