Samwell is of English origin, derived from the Old English elements 'seax' meaning 'knife', and 'wulf' meaning 'wolf'. It is a variant of the name Samuel, which was popularized in England by the Anglo-Saxons who adopted it after their invasion in the mid-5th century. The name gained further popularity during the Middle Ages due to its biblical association with Samuel, the last judge and prophet of the Old Testament. Samwell is considered a strong and robust name that carries an air of antiquity and tradition.
The name Samwell has seen fluctuations in popularity over the past seven years, with a notable peak in 2019 when there were 10 births. However, since then it seems to have stabilized at around five births per year, with no significant increases or decreases. Overall, there have been a total of 43 babies named Samwell between 2016 and 2023 inclusive.