About the name Samuil / Samuel
Etymology & meaning
Samuil comes from the Hebrew Shemuel — "God has heard" (or "asked of God"): the name Hannah gave her long-awaited son, the future prophet. Through the Greek Σαμουήλ it entered the Orthodox calendar.
History & patron saint
The Holy Prophet Samuel (20 August) was the last of Israel's judges, anointer of the first kings Saul and David. For Bulgarians the name carries a second, royal memory — Tsar Samuil, defender of the First Bulgarian Tsardom, one of the most tragic figures of national history.
Traditions & customs
The name day is an August one — treats at a rich summer table. In many families the story of Tsar Samuil and the battle of Belasitsa is an inseparable part of the feast.
Popularity & notable bearers
Samuil is a rare name heavy with history, in unbroken use since the Middle Ages; the town of Samuil in the Ludogorie keeps the tsar's memory.