It took its name from a village called Semyonovskoe (eastern Moscow) [ru] (part of the present-day Sokolniki District), where it was initially stationed.

For their prowess, all soldiers of the Semyonovsky regiment wore red stockings from 1700 to 1740, as "in that battle, they stood knee-deep in blood".

In 1814, the regiment was redeployed to Paris and took part in the Allied parade for the deposition of Napoleon and his exile to Elba that year.

A unique officer served in the regiment for those two years: Georgian cavalier and colonel (later general) Sergey Nepeitsyn.

The remainder of the regiment interceded in favour of their comrades, but were surrounded by the garrison of Saint Petersburg and also sent to the Peter and Paul Fortress.

The first battalion was court-martialled by a tribunal; the instigators were condemned to run the gauntlet, while other guardsmen were exiled to remote garrisons.

On 16 December, when the Semyonovsky Regiment arrived in Moscow by train from Saint Petersburg, rebels still held the Presnya quarter as well as the Moscow-Kazan railroad line to Golutvin.

In late May 1919, a large portion of the regiment (more than 600 men) switched sides to join the White movement; all communists who were present at the time were shot.

Throughout its history under the Russian Empire, the regiment wore the standard uniform of the Infantry of the Imperial Guard, which from 1683 to 1914 was predominantly of dark green (eventually verging on black) colour.

The main distinctions of the Semyonovsky Regiment were the red facings (plastron, cuffs and shoulder straps) edged in white piping.

Tunic collar colours were of a light to medium blue, worn with distinctive regimental patterns of braid (litzen).

[3] In 1910, in recognition of its distinguished record, officers of the regiment were authorised to wear a large metal gorget inscribed "In memory of Narva 1683-1850-1883".

[5] For the Semyonovsky Regiment conscripts were selected for their height (tallest of the Guard Infantry), light brown hair and being clean-shaven.

Just as before the move to Saint Petersburg, the regiment today is garrisoned in Zyuzino Selo in Ramensky District, Moscow Oblast.