Surname Salmon - Meaning and Origin

DNA Analysis Unravels Intriguing Ancestral Tapestry of Surname Salmon

The iGENEA DNA test I took delivered some fascinating outputs about the surname Salmon. The results underscored primarily Western European paternal lineage, revealed exotic maternal roots outside Europe, and signposted potential links with the Ashkenazi Jewish community. From an ancestry perspective, it sketched a dynamic migratory landscape spanning over various continental and historical scopes.

J. Salmon

Salmon: What does the surname Salmon mean?

The surname Salmon, of Old French and Anglo-Norman origin, is related to the fish "salmon." Deriving from the Old French term for the fish, "samon," this surname was typically given as a nickname to someone who sold the fish, lived near a prominent salmon fishery, or somehow resembled a salmon. While the surname Salmon is widely associated with Irish, Jewish (Ashkenazic), and English ancestry, it can be found in various spellings and forms across Europe including Salomon, Salomons, Salamone, and Salaman, among others. It is also noteworthy to mention that in some Jewish instances, its bearers adopted the surname due to its symbolic biblical significance; the name Salmon appears in the Old Testament as an ancestor of King David.

Salmon: Where does the name Salmon come from?

The last name Salmon is most commonly found in Ireland today. This is because of centuries of migration from abroad. Records of the Salmon surname are particularly common in the provinces of Ulster and Connacht in the west of the island.

In more recent times, there has been an increased presence of Salmon surnames further east in Leinster due to the large flow of immigration in recent years.

The Salmon surname was first used by families in Ireland who originally had the Gaelic surname of Mac Salmon. This was made up of the prefix “mac”, meaning “son of”, combined with the personal name “Salmon”. This particular surname likely came to Ireland with the Normans.

The Salmon surname can also be found in places all over the world due to Irish emigration over the centuries. There are concentrations in areas such as North America, the United Kingdom, and Australia, all of which were popular destinations, and today continue to be popular destinations for Irish emigration.

Overall, the Salmon name is most commonly traced to Ireland today, however, it can be found in notable numbers elsewhere due to the diaspora of Irish communities.

Variations of the surname Salmon

The surname Salmon is primarily of English origin, though it has also been found in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. Variations of the name include Salmons, Saleman, Salomon, Salmonn, Salmans, Salmanson, Salm, Salmson, Salmonson, Salmas, Salmonney, Salmin, Salminen, Salmonen, Salmonsson, and Salomonson.

The patronymic version of the surname Salmon, meaning a son of Salmon, is Salmman, Salmmson, Salmonson, Salomon, Salomonon, Saleeman, and Salesman. There are also several spelling variations of the name, including Salemen, Salmon, Salmonn, Salmons, Salmonsen, Salmonson, and Salsmian.

In some cases, the surname Salmon can be found as both a first and last name. This can be especially true in some of the Irish Gaelic dialects, where the surname is spelled Ó Salmhaon or Mac Shamhain. The name's meaning comes from the Gaelic word meaning "one handed" and was usually applied as a nickname.

In terms of origin, the name Salmon is most likely derived from the Old English word salm, which means a salmon fish. This suggests that the surname originated as a nickname or occupational name for one who fished for salmon. Historically, the name Salmon was likely first found in Cornwall, England.

Famous people with the name Salmon

• Leah Salmon: Leah is an English professional tennis player who rose to prominence after winning the 2020 Nottingham Open.
• Kate Salmon: Kate is an American film and television actress, best known for her roles in the ovarian Cancer Awareness comedy The Other Woman and the ABC family motion picture Dead of Summer.
• Peter Salmon: Peter is a British television executive, director and producer. He is currently Chief Creative Officer of BBC Studios.
• Elizabeth Salmon: Elizabeth is an international law specialist and consultant who has worked for organizations such as The Asia-Europe Foundation, The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance and The United Nations Development Programme.
• Stephen Salmon: Stephen is an Australian-born composer and audio engineer, best known for his work on the Australian reality show Survivor.
• Rhian Salmon: Rhian is a Welsh actress known for her roles in shows such as Doctors and The Bill.
• Dudley Salmon: Dudley was an English cricket player in the 18th century, who went on to become a county court judge.
• Mark Salmon: Mark is an English amateur racing car driver and former national champion.
• Jesse Salmon: Jesse is a professional snowboarder, sponsored by Burton snowboards, and has competed in the X Games, Dew Tour and Burton European Open.
• Salem Salmon: Salem is an Israeli singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who released his first album The Life Cycle in 2018.

Other surnames

SalmondSalmondsSalmons