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Sams Family History

Sams Name Meaning

English: variant of Sam with genitival or post-medieval excrescent -s.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Samms, Syms, Tams, Samis, Samsa, Sims, Samp, Sam, Mars, Sales

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Sams family from?

You can see how Sams families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sams family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Sams families were found in USA in 1880. In 1840 there were 18 Sams families living in Ohio. This was about 18% of all the recorded Sams's in USA. Ohio had the highest population of Sams families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sams surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
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What did your Sams ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Sams. 22% of Sams men worked as a Laborer and 10% of Sams women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Sams were Salesman and Cook. .

View Census Data for Sams | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    22%
  • Farmer
    17%
  • Truck Driver
    5%
  • Salesman
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    10%
  • Housewife
    8%
  • Housekeeper
    7%
  • Cook
    5%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Sams family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 66,000 census records available for the last name Sams. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sams census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Sams

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Sams. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Sams immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 13,000 military records available for the last name Sams. For the veterans among your Sams ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sams military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sams family history

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What is the average Sams lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Sams life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Sams in 1941 was 39, and 72 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sams

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