NameCensus.

UK surname

Semple

A Scottish occupational surname referring to a person who made simple goods or performed basic tasks.

In the 1881 census there were 1,432 people recorded with the Semple surname, ranking it #2,910 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,556, ranked #2,588, up from #2,910 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkintilloch, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kintyre Trail, Campbeltown and IZ02.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Semple is 2,558 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 78.5%.

1881 census count

1,432

Ranked #2,910

Modern count

2,556

2016, ranked #2,588

Peak year

2000

2,558 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Semple had 1,432 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,910 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,556 in 2016, ranked #2,588.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,822 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Semple surname distribution map

The map shows where the Semple surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Semple surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Semple over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,004 #2,781
1861 historical 1,185 #2,391
1881 historical 1,432 #2,910
1891 historical 1,526 #2,893
1901 historical 1,822 #2,882
1911 historical 282 #11,915
1997 modern 2,464 #2,546
1998 modern 2,546 #2,565
1999 modern 2,534 #2,598
2000 modern 2,558 #2,560
2001 modern 2,471 #2,591
2002 modern 2,493 #2,624
2003 modern 2,426 #2,632
2004 modern 2,452 #2,613
2005 modern 2,449 #2,585
2006 modern 2,409 #2,621
2007 modern 2,434 #2,628
2008 modern 2,458 #2,623
2009 modern 2,526 #2,621
2010 modern 2,556 #2,646
2011 modern 2,532 #2,639
2012 modern 2,476 #2,644
2013 modern 2,534 #2,635
2014 modern 2,558 #2,627
2015 modern 2,557 #2,599
2016 modern 2,556 #2,588

Geography

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Where Semples are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkintilloch, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Glassford and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kintyre Trail, Campbeltown, IZ02, Glenwood North and Larkhall Central, Raploch, Millheugh and Burnhead. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Kirkintilloch Dunbarton
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glassford Lanark
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kintyre Trail Argyll and Bute
2 Campbeltown Argyll and Bute
3 IZ02 West Dunbartonshire
4 Glenwood North Glasgow City
5 Larkhall Central, Raploch, Millheugh and Burnhead South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Semple

These lists show first names that appear often with the Semple surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Semple

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Semple, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Semple surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Semple household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Semple is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Semple is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Semple falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Semple is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Semple, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Semple

The surname SEMPLE is of Scottish origin and can be traced back to the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word 'sempyll', which means 'simple' or 'humble'. The name is believed to have originated in the parish of Semple, located in Renfrewshire, Scotland.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SEMPLE can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, where it appears as 'Robert de Sempill'. This document was a record of Scottish nobles who swore fealty to Edward I of England during the Wars of Scottish Independence.

In the 14th century, the SEMPLE family gained prominence as they became major landowners in Renfrewshire. Sir Robert Semple, who lived from around 1330 to 1389, was a prominent figure during this time and was known for his loyalty to King Robert II of Scotland.

The SEMPLE name can also be found in the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which were financial records kept by the Scottish government in the 15th and 16th centuries. This suggests that members of the SEMPLE family held positions of importance within the Scottish administration.

One notable bearer of the SEMPLE name was Sir James Semple (1566-1625), a Scottish diplomat and politician who served as Lord President of the College of Justice in Scotland. He was also a member of the Privy Council and played a crucial role in the negotiations that led to the Union of the Crowns in 1603.

Another prominent figure was Robert Semple (1766-1816), a Scottish writer and philosopher who was a leading figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. He was known for his work on logic and philosophy of language.

In the 19th century, Sir James Semple (1829-1892) was a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of Glasgow. He was also a member of the Royal Company of Archers, the Queen's bodyguard for Scotland.

The SEMPLE name has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as Semple Parish, Semple Castle, and Semple Loch, all of which are located in Renfrewshire.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Semple families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Semple surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 697 Semples recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.48x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 697 15.48x
Renfrewshire 202 18.73x
Ayrshire 128 12.29x
Dunbartonshire 70 18.71x
Midlothian 38 2.04x
Middlesex 36 0.26x
Perthshire 34 5.44x
Lancashire 33 0.20x
Dumfriesshire 20 6.50x
Northumberland 16 0.77x
Yorkshire 15 0.11x
Argyllshire 14 3.61x
Devon 13 0.45x
Stirlingshire 13 2.53x
Angus 11 0.85x
Kent 9 0.19x
Westmorland 9 2.94x
Wigtownshire 9 4.87x
Cornwall 8 0.51x
Surrey 8 0.12x
Fife 6 0.73x
Durham 5 0.12x
Essex 5 0.18x
West Lothian 5 2.39x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.23x
Cheshire 3 0.10x
Hampshire 3 0.11x
Somerset 3 0.13x
Sussex 3 0.13x
Cumberland 2 0.17x
Buteshire 1 1.19x
Channel Islands 1 0.24x
Gloucestershire 1 0.04x
Inverness-shire 1 0.24x
Oxfordshire 1 0.12x
Staffordshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 141 Semples recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.38x.

Place Total Index
Barony 141 12.38x
Govan 109 9.79x
Avondale 95 360.94x
Glasgow 79 9.88x
Kirkintilloch 62 122.00x
Abbey 46 27.95x
Paisley High Church 45 52.39x
Glassford 43 619.60x
Kilbarchan 39 119.01x
Cambuslang 32 70.50x
Blantyre 28 59.74x
Dalserf 27 60.11x
Old Monkland 26 14.55x
East Kilbride 22 114.11x
Bothwell 19 15.56x
Cambusnethan 19 19.00x
Galston 19 66.69x
Kilmarnock 18 14.52x
Lesmahagow 18 37.81x
Paisley Low Church 17 49.78x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 14 1.87x
Hamilton 14 11.15x
Abernethy 13 159.31x
Neilston 13 24.01x
South Leith 12 5.72x
Loudoun 11 43.91x
St Quivox 11 31.23x
Beith 10 32.16x
Annan 9 34.08x
East Greenock 9 8.83x
Farnell 9 304.05x
Heversham With Milnthorpe 9 122.12x
Kirkinner 9 117.96x
Port Glasgow 9 17.26x
Scone 9 81.08x
Dalmellington 8 26.12x
Liverpool 8 0.80x
Mouswald 8 300.75x
Saddell Skipness 8 144.93x
St Cleer 8 58.52x
Walston 8 493.83x
Bonhill 7 11.66x
Eastwood 7 10.54x
Liberton 7 24.32x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 7 5.66x
Ash Next Sandwich 6 57.09x
Ayr 6 12.20x
Barrow In Furness 6 2.67x
Falkirk 6 4.99x
Harrow On The Hill 6 21.58x
Islington London 6 0.44x
Kilmaurs 6 33.84x
Maryhill 6 6.81x
New Monkland 6 4.51x
Paisley Middle Church 6 9.55x
Perth East Church 6 10.19x
St George Bloomsbury 6 7.51x
Tarbolton 6 35.01x
Tavistock 6 18.18x
Tweedmouth 6 23.24x
Windlesham 6 47.02x
Acton 5 6.13x
Dailly 5 47.04x
Irvine 5 17.28x
Kirkoswald 5 58.75x
Muirkirk 5 20.44x
Openshaw 5 6.46x
Scarborough 5 3.99x
West Ham 5 0.82x
Carriden 4 42.11x
Cathcart 4 6.85x
Dunfermline 4 3.16x
Maybole 4 12.61x
West Greenock 4 2.07x
Bishopwearmouth 3 0.84x
Dunlop 3 46.15x
Heston 3 6.49x
Hornsey 3 1.70x
Jesmond 3 10.30x
Knaresborough 3 13.84x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Semple surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Semple surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 13
John 9
Charles 6
Robert 6
Edward 5
George 5
Arthur 4
James 4
Thomas 4
Henry 3
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Robt. 2
Alexr. 1
Edgar 1
Gavin 1
Guy 1
Herbert 1
Horace 1
Jam. 1
Jonas 1
Joseph 1
Matthew 1
P. 1
Philip 1
Samuel 1
Soloman 1
Stewart 1
Stuart 1
Theodore 1

FAQ

Semple surname: questions and answers

How common was the Semple surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,432 people were recorded with the Semple surname. That placed it at #2,910 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Semple surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,556 in 2016. That gives Semple a modern rank of #2,588.

What does the Semple surname mean?

A Scottish occupational surname referring to a person who made simple goods or performed basic tasks.

What does the Semple map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Semple bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.