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The surnames in most European countries were created in the years 1200AD to 1300 AD. The formulation began earlier and continued into the eighteen hundreds. During the 11th century surnames were not in general use, however, by 1500AD surnames were common. As time progressed the need for an extra name evolved and by the 15th century surnames were in every day use. The English name Samwell is of Kinship origin. Kinship names derived from family. As children grew it was not unusual to refer to them by the name of the parents. We find that the Scandinavian "Sen", the English "Son", the Greek "Pulor", the Finnish "Nen", and the Spanish "Ez" all mean "Son"; the Irish "o" indicates the name of the Grandfather or an earlier encestor. In this case the name Samwell clearly means "Son of Samuel"; here Samwell is an early corruption of this personal name. It is oftern assumed that surnames were adopted by the user, when in fact only a few were, as no need existed for the individual to distinguish himself from his peers. Names were used mainly to assist in the ready identification of a person for the purpose of tax payment, church records, transfer of land, military service and any official documentation. Records of the name Samwell or a variant date back to the 13th century when William Samwel of County Oxfordshire is recorded within the Hundred Rolls of 1273. The Hundred Rolls which until the 19th century was a unit of English goverment detailing citizens of a given area. This system of local legal jurisdiction was introduced by King Edmund I (939-946AD). Later recordings during the 17th century include the baptism of Alice, daughter of William Samwell in 1612 at St Mary Aldermary and a century later there is a mention of Mary Sammiwell who was buried at St Antholin (London) in 1708. Our Blazon of Arms: Argent two squirrels sejent addorsed gules within a birdure sable. Crest: A ducal coronet or, theron a squirrel sejant gules cracking a nut gold, stalked and leaved proper. Origin: England