Sam:
Short
for Samuel, Samson, or Samantha
Samuel:
From
the Hebrew name Shemu'el which
could mean either "name of God" or "God has heard".
Samuel was the last of the ruling judges in the Old
Testament. He anointed Saul to be the first king of Israel, and
later anointed David.
As a Christian name, Samuel came into common use after the Protestant Reformation. Famous bearers include American inventor Samuel Morse (1791-1872), Irish writer Samuel Beckett (1906-1989), and American author Samuel Clemens (1835-1910), who wrote under the pen name Mark Twain.
Samson:
From
the Hebrew name Shimshon
which
probably meant "sun". Samson was an Old
Testament hero of exceptional strength. His uncut hair was
the source of his power, but his mistress Delilah betrayed him and
cut it. Thus he was captured by the Philistines, blinded, and brought
to their temple. However, in a final act of strength, he pulled down
the pillars of the temple upon himself and his captors.
As an English name, Samson was common during the Middle Ages, having been introduced by the Normans. This was due to the Welsh bishop Saint Samson, who founded monasteries in Brittany and Normandy in the 6th century. In his case, the name may have been a translation of his true Celtic name.
Samantha:
Perhaps
intended to be a feminine form of Samuel,
using the popular name suffix antha.
It originated in America in the 18th century but was fairly uncommon
until 1964, when it was popularized by the main character on the
television show 'Bewitched'.
/name/SAM