Samuel (Hebrew: שְׁמוּאֵל Šəmūʾēl, Tiberian: Šămūʾēl) is a male name and a surname of Hebrew origin. It means "name of God", deriving from the Hebrew Shem (שֵׁם) (which means "name") + ʾĒl (which means "God" or "deity"). However, from the explanation given in 1 Samuel 1:20, the name could alternatively come from a contraction of the Hebrew שְׁאִלְתִּיו מֵאֵל (Modern: Šəʾīltīv mēʾĒl, Tiberian: Šĭʾīltīw mēʾĒl), meaning "I have asked/borrowed him from God". This is the verse in which the Prophet Samuel's mother Hannah names her son, after praying that she would be able to give birth. Her prayers having been answered, she dedicates the child to God as a Nazirite. Samuel was the last of the ruling judges in the Old Testament. He anointed Saul to be the first King of Israel and later anointed David.
As a Christian name, Samuel came into common use after the Protestant Reformation. Famous bearers include the American inventor Samuel F. B. Morse (1791–1872), the Irish writer Samuel Beckett (1906–89) and the American author Samuel Clemens (1835–1910), who wrote under the pen name Mark Twain.
The name Samuel is popular amongst Black Africans, as well as among African Americans who follow Christianity and Islam alike. It is also widespread amongst the modern Jewish communities, especially Sephardic Jews and Ashkenazi Jews. It is also quite popular in countries that speak English, French, German, Dutch, Spanish, and Portuguese, as well as in Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Scandinavia, Italy, Romania, Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia and Croatia.
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Notable people
Samuel may refer to: (see also: Sam, Sammy, etc.)
Fictional characters
Samuel "Sammy" Fabelman, the main protagonist of Steven Spielberg's semi-autobiographical film The Fabelmans
Samuel Gerard, supervisor of U.S. marshals in The Fugitive
Samuel "Sam" Jones, protagonist of Fireman Sam
Samuel Vimes, captain and, later, commander of the Ankh-Morpork City Watch in the Discworld series
Samuel "Zammo" Maguire, a main character in Grange Hill
Sam Eagle, Muppet character
Samuel "Jetstream Sam" Rodrigues, a character and boss fight from Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance
Samuel "Sam" Wilson, a major character in the Marvel Cinematic Universe
Professor Samuel Oak, a recurring character in the Pokemon multimedia franchise.
Sam Winchester, one of two main characters in the TV show Supernatural
Uncle Sam, mascot of the United States of America
