Surname Sampley - Meaning and Origin
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Sampley: What does the surname Sampley mean?
The surname Sampley is of English origin and its first known usage can be traced back to medieval England. The name is likely occupational, derived from the Middle English "sample", or the Old French "example" or "essample". This suggests that an ancestor of the Sampley family held a position where his duty was to give a sample or example, possibly relating to a merchant who dealt in goods and had to provide samples of his wares to potential customers. It's equally possible that it originates from the Anglo-Saxon habitational name "Sampford", meaning "sand ford" in old English. Over time, the name evolved and the spelling changed, as occurred with many other last names. Today, Sampley is not a very common surname and is mostly found in the United States. It's essential to note that surname meanings can vary greatly as they are often influenced by numerous factors such as geography, occupation, dialect, and cultural shifts over time.
Order DNA origin analysisSampley: Where does the name Sampley come from?
The last name Sampley is most commonly found today in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In the United States, Sampley is more common in the states of Virginia, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Georgia, and North and South Carolina. It can be found in many states, although more frequently in the southeastern part of the country.
The Sampley surname is thought to originate from the Gilford Castle in County Cork, Ireland. It's believed that the name was anglicized from an Irish surname, which was originally Ó Sámhaille. In the late 1700s, many Irish immigrants came to North America, bringing the Sampley name with them.
In the 1881 Census of England and Wales, the Sampley surname was most commonly found in Warwickshire, with a population of over 7000 people bearing the name in that area alone.
In the US, the Sampley family was largely an agricultural family, with many members owning farms in the South. Several generations of the Sampley family lived and farmed in Arkansas and other parts of the South during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Today, the Sampley name is less common than it once was due to emigration and dispersal of the family across the United States over the years. However, the name is still fairly common and can be found in many states.
Variations of the surname Sampley
The surname Sampley is of English origin, and is a variant of Samples, Samply,and Samphrey.
This surname has also been found spelled as Sample, Samphrey, Samplee, Samplay, Samples, Samply, Santpley and Samplie, all having the same origin.
In England, early recordings of this surname include William Sample, recorded in the Assize Court Rolls of Wiltshire in 1221, and a Roger Samply, mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296.
Variants of this surname are found in many countries. Examples of other records include Johan Sample, a witness in the city of Isny, Germany in the year 1378.
In the United States of America, some of the earliest immigrants bearing this surname included Matthew Sample, aged 30, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1803 from England.
Surnames variations of Sampley include Samples, Samply, Samphray, Samplee, Samplay, Samplie, Santpley, Sample, Samphrey and Sample.
Famous people with the name Sampley
- Julian Sampley: English footballer who plays for Forest Green Rovers
- Thom Sampley: Vietnam veteran, artist, and activist notable for his campaign against the Veteran’s Affairs medical system
- Fred Sampley: Civil-War era Republican Congressman from Georgia
- Carlie Sampley: Singer-songwriter from South Carolina
- Cylla Sampley: English actress and voice artist, best known for her roles in Game of Thrones, Kingsman: The Secret Service, and Red Riding Hood
- Mocky Sampley: Music producer and multi-instrumentalist from Canada
- Ashley Sampley: Reality television personality, best known for appearing on the first season of The Bachelor
- Cal Sampley: American entrepreneur, angel investor, and tech advisor
- Tom Sampley: Nuclear physicist, inventor, and founder of FusionCAT, a nuclear energy company
- Sophia Sampley: American Olympic swimmer, who won a gold medal in the 200m breaststroke competition in Sydney 2000