The name is derived from the name Seman (hypocoristic form of such Old Slavic compound given names as Semrád, Semerád ‘Semrád, Semerád’) and refers to the connection with the father or another ancestor by that name. It may also be derived from the German common noun Seemann meaning 'sailor, member of a ship's crew, or a person who lives by a lake' and refers to an occupation or the place of residence, origin or estate. Variants: Semán, Séman, Szeman, Szemán.