National Sam
Monday, July 13, 2026
Samuel Becomes Sam. English Puritans adopted Samuel as a given name during the Reformation and brought it to colonial America. By the time the SSA began tracking names in 1880, Samuel was already entrenched in the top 25. It has never fallen out of the top 100 in any year since.The short form Sam gained additional power during the War of 1812. Samuel Wilson, a meatpacker from Troy, New York, supplied barrels of beef stamped "U.S." to the military. Soldiers began calling the supplies "Uncle Sam's," and the nickname stuck. In 1961, Congress passed a resolution formally recognizing Wilson as the progenitor of the national symbol
History
Samuel Becomes Sam. English Puritans adopted Samuel as a given name during the Reformation and brought it to colonial America. By the time the SSA began tracking names in 1880, Samuel was already entrenched in the top 25. It has never fallen out of the top 100 in any year since.The short form Sam gained additional power during the War of 1812. Samuel Wilson, a meatpacker from Troy, New York, supplied barrels of beef stamped "U.S." to the military. Soldiers began calling the supplies "Uncle Sam's," and the nickname stuck. In 1961, Congress passed a resolution formally recognizing Wilson as the progenitor of the national symbol
How It's Celebrated
National Sam is observed by recognizing the importance of the day, learning about its background and significance, and sharing awareness with others through conversation and social media. Many people take time to reflect on the meaning of the observance and participate in relevant activities or community events.