Last name: Salmon

This intriguing and unusual name is of early medieval English origin, and derives from the Middle English and Old French given name "Salmon" or "Saumon", a contracted form of Salomon. The ultimate origin of the personal name is from the Hebrew male given name "Shelomo", a derivative of "shalom", peace. Salomon and its variant forms was a popular given name among Christians and Jews during the Middle Ages; it is recorded as "Salomon" in the Domesday Book of 1086, and one "Salamon clericus" is recorded in Suffolk in 1121. Salomon was the usual medieval form, used in the Vulgate Bible, and by Tyndale and Cranmer, while Solomon is the form used in the Geneva Bible and the Authorized Version. In England the surname may also have developed from use as a nickname for a man thought to be unusually wise, and for someone who had played the part of King Solomon in a miracle play. The modern English surname has many variants, ranging from Salamon, Salaman and Salomon to Salmon, Salman and Salmen. A Coat of Arms granted to a Salmon family is ermines, three salmons haurient proper, in chief a gold cross pattee. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Roger Salmon, which was dated 1210, in the "Curia Rolls of Bedfordshire", during the reign of King John, known as "Lackland", 1199 - 1216. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Visitor Comments

Peter Salmon
The name Salmon is much, much older than stated here. It goes back to the Bronze age. Check out Matthew chapter 2 and you will find that there is a man called Salmon that is Gt Gt Gt Gt Grandfather of King David. Beat that !

Linda
Also note OT scriptures tying Salmon to lineage of Jesus Christ, beginning with father of Boaz who married Ruth, they begat Obed, who begat Jesse, who begat (King) David, who begat (King) Solomon, who begat... Jesus Christ! Also related in the line of David was Jesus' stepfather, Joseph. See Ruth 4:20-22 Matt. 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38 with all preceding generations to Adam as well.

Janet SAlmon
Thanks for that info. Peter! Are you a Salmon from NB?

Melissa
So it is more Hebrew Name than English?

Thalia
Cool, I didnt know this.

Ian Walters
My great-grandmother was Annie Maria Salmon from Colchester. There seems to have been a remarkable number of Colchester residents around 1800-1850 with the name Salmon. Maybe there still are?

Gillian Magnabosco (nee Salmon)
I have a Annie M Salmon born in 1882 Warwickshire England in my family tree. I have been trying to search my FT for Salmons (my maiden name) with no luck. Annie is my 1st cousin 2 removed. Her father was Edward Blanchard Salmon my great grand uncle. She was married to Arthur Godall. Is this the same as yours?

Ian Walters
Sorry, my great-grandmother Annie (Anna on her b.c.) Maria Salmon was born 1845 in Colchester, Essex, England. She married William Shepperd there in 1865. Their daughter, another Annie, was my father's mother. No doubt our trees meet up somewhere, but it could apparently be centuries ago.

alice Salmond
My name is Salmond living in Fife Scotland for generations, Does anyone think that we may all be connected somehow , somewhere throughout the centuries?

Carole Salmon-Stofira
Very interesting comments, everyone, especially Peter & Linda!! I have such an interesting lineage on my mother's side but know very little on my father's side (Salmon/Smith). Does anyone have Salmon relatives from Ohio or anywhere else?

Debbie
I'm doing geneology for a friend she is related to William Salmon of Ross County,Ohio. So far I have found them to descendents of the Scotish Salmons. I tracking down a knight that knighted by Robert Bruce.

Judy Salmon - Tyler
My ancestry of Salmpn's is supposed to go back to a knight under Sir Robert Bruce, but I have only found a priest who had four children, John Salmon. This originated in Scotland and it said they moved across the borders during the wars. The last Salmon I have found is Joseph Salmon who died near Light Street PA in 1822. His family came from England in 1640 and settled in New Jersey. Many came through Indiana and Ohio. Alot are here in Iowa and some are Mormons in Utah.

Jesus Roberto Salmon
I would also like to add that my uncle was talking to a college professor at Domincan college in California about the last name Salmon and she said that when the US was becoming a country a very rich family from Israel with the last name Salmon gave slot of money to the US helping is gain independence. This is why the US never really had quarrels with Israel. More about me, my name is Roberto Salmon, living in California, but my dad Roberto Salmon Senior was born in Mexico but he is obviously European as he is fair skinned, blond, and has green eyes.

Debbie
Most hispanics of Mexico are a blend of European countries. I have many ancestors from Mexico, who came to California, yet when you trace them back you'll find there families throughout all of Europe.

Sebastian Salmon
hello there roberto my name is sebastian salmon im also from california and my dad efrain salmon is also mexican and he also is fair skinned and has colored eyes... and did you say dominican college? the one in san rafael CA?

leslie salmon
my mame is Leslie Salmon. i was born in the east end of London. my grandfathers brothers left England late 1800.Somewherein the USA i have a lot of relatives,not known to me ,I came to CANADA in 1957 and now have quite a big family here.it is very nice to read the comments of other SALMONS .Thank you.

Sheila
Leslie: I am also a Salmon from birth. My great/great/great grandfather was born in 1785 in England somewhere. He moved to Canada sometime after that. I don't know when. It is possible that he landed in the USA first, but I have no record of that. His name was James. Do you know who your grandfather's brothers were?

susan lesley reynolds (salmon)
Leslie, my dad was also Leslie Salmon. I came to Canada in 1957 with my parents and older brother. Although Leslie was born in Manchester, England, he came to Manitoba (Winnipeg) and later Toronto before returning to Manchester before WWII. Leslie was an only child to George Robert Salmon and Mary (Griffin) Salmon and my brother never married. I would love to find out more about my family history on dad's side. I know George's family came from King's Lynn near Boston, England before moving into the Manchester area.

Lyne
Add another Salmon...Lynne. Daughter of Margaret [Yates] and Brent Salmon.

Janet Salmon
Seth Salmon was my great- grandfather...He had three brothers. Oliver Seth Salmon was my grandfather...John (Jack) Oliver Salmon was my father... My name is Janet Salmon and I have 4 sisters: Melanie, Nancy, Jacqueline (Jackie), & Heather. Three of the daughters live in Atlantic Canada & one presently lives in Limerick, Irland. Oliver Seth Salmon had 8 children: Shirley, John, Donald, Paul, Patricia, David, & Barbara...baby Peter died very young. Shirley & Barbara (oldest & youngest) are the only living children of Oliver Seth Salmon. Would anyone know w.ho my great grandfather's brothers were? I believe one settled in St, John, New Brunswick, Canada. Thank you, Janet

Candace Salmon
Janet! Long time! Cindy and I were googling history, and here you are. I wish we knew more about this family--sad that most of the people with the answers are gone.

Janet Salmon
I believe you and Cindy have a fair bit of information about the Salmon family, don't you? Louanna did give me a copy of some information that I believe Cindy had found awhile ago. have she uncovered anything new in the past couple of years? I had a great chat with Cindy at Pam & Frank's wedding in September. It was nice to see so many relatives and the fact that it was a happy time made the occasion even better! Sorry you weren't there. Are you at your mom's? Great to hear from you! :-)

Andrea Jackson
My Salmon forebears were from Prussia. My great great great grandfather's name was Phillip Salmon b 1830 Friedeberg Prussia. He lived in Arthabaska, Canada as a wine merchant in 1860s then when to Baltimore, MD. I can't find any of his relatives or information about Prussian Salmons. Let me know if there are any hints. See my Salmon Stern Rumizen Rubenstein tree in Ancestry. Andrea

Pau Salmon
Hi my name is paul salmon. I was born in Northampton but me family is from grays in esse

Andrea
Where is esse??

Janet Allinson
My grandmother was a Salmon. She was Irish, but came to live in England in the early part of the last century. It's interesting to learn where the name has its origins.

lynn rogers
My grandfather was Frank Klaus Salmon, born 18/11/1918... He was born in Germany and was a German Jew. I am not sure at what age he immigrated to South Africa, but it was here that he married my Gran. He passed away on the 1 Jan 2000.. would love to try and map out a family tree and find his extended family, if any still exist.

Susan Reynolds
My father was Leslie Salmon. His parents were from Kings Lynn in the UK. George Robert and Mary. That's all I know about the Salmons. I'd love to know more. Dad was an only child. He is the last Salmon. Dad was born in 1916

Judy Salmon - Tyler
I just founnd that Joseph Salmon's parents could be John and Lydia Payne Salmon. I am still checking for them in New Jersey and PA. If anyone has info please reply. Thank you.

Andrea Jackson
Through Ancestry I found Salmons from Prussia living in Baltimore, MD around 1860-90. Still not sure of the relationship to my great greats (Philip and Mina Salmon) but interesting if anyone else is looking.

Alethia Salmon
hi everyone, my name is Alethia Slamon and my family is from Jamaica. My grand parents are from St Elizabeth in Jamaica. We are fair skin with curly/wavy hair and the most of the males in my family have brown eyes and grey eyes. I have always thought that my surname was unique because its so rare and when i do meet another Salmon, who is from the Caribbean, their family also came from St Elizabeth. During slavery, the Europeans settled there.