NameCensus.

UK surname

Sim

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "narrow" or "straight" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 598 people recorded with the Sim surname, ranking it #5,850 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,818, ranked #1,407, up from #5,850 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Elgin and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Fraserburgh Smiddyhill, Lerwick North and Torry West.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sim is 4,838 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 705.7%.

1881 census count

598

Ranked #5,850

Modern count

4,818

2016, ranked #1,407

Peak year

2014

4,838 bearers

Map years

7

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sim had 598 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,850 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,818 in 2016, ranked #1,407.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,222 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Sim surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sim surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sim 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 2,508 #1,185
1861 historical 3 #33,861
1881 historical 598 #5,850
1891 historical 3,082 #1,527
1901 historical 4,222 #1,332
1997 modern 4,519 #1,448
1998 modern 4,541 #1,490
1999 modern 4,581 #1,492
2000 modern 4,570 #1,490
2001 modern 4,471 #1,487
2002 modern 4,580 #1,489
2003 modern 4,475 #1,483
2004 modern 4,502 #1,473
2005 modern 4,467 #1,468
2006 modern 4,490 #1,459
2007 modern 4,528 #1,456
2008 modern 4,624 #1,433
2009 modern 4,774 #1,427
2010 modern 4,804 #1,450
2011 modern 4,758 #1,448
2012 modern 4,694 #1,431
2013 modern 4,741 #1,448
2014 modern 4,838 #1,424
2015 modern 4,796 #1,422
2016 modern 4,818 #1,407

Geography

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Where Sims are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Fraserburgh Smiddyhill, Lerwick North, Torry West, Allerdale and Copeland. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Elgin Elgin
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Pitsligo Aberdeen

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Fraserburgh Smiddyhill Aberdeenshire
2 Lerwick North Shetland Islands
3 Torry West Aberdeen City
4 Allerdale 003 Allerdale
5 Copeland 005 Copeland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sim

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sim

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sim, 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 Sim surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Sim 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, Sim 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

Sim 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

Sim falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sim 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 Sim, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Sim

The surname Sim has its origins in Scotland, emerging around the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "sim," which means "flat or level ground." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived on or near a flat or level area of land.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Sim can be found in various Scottish records and charters from the 12th and 13th centuries. One of the earliest known references is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This document includes the name Symone Sym.

During the 13th century, the name Sim also appeared in various forms, such as Syme, Syme, and Symon. These variations likely stemmed from the Scots pronunciation of the name, as well as the influence of other languages like Norman French.

In the 14th century, the name Sim began to appear in connection with various place names in Scotland. For example, there are references to individuals from places like Symington and Symondstoun (now known as Symington in South Ayrshire).

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Sim was Sir John Sym, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the late 14th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Robert III of Scotland.

Another notable individual with the surname Sim was Robert Simson, a renowned Scottish mathematician and geometer who lived from 1687 to 1768. He made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and geometry and is best known for his work on the properties of conic sections.

In the 17th century, the name Sim also gained prominence in the Scottish Borders region. One notable figure from this area was John Sim, a minister and theologian who lived from 1616 to 1688. He was a prominent figure in the Church of Scotland and played a significant role in the religious and political conflicts of his time.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname Sim continued to be found throughout Scotland, particularly in areas like Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and the Scottish Borders. Several notable individuals bearing this name emerged during this period, including Sir John Sim, a Scottish merchant and landowner who lived from 1759 to 1831.

Another notable figure was William Sim, a Scottish artist and engraver who lived from 1791 to 1862. He was known for his intricate engravings of architectural and landscape subjects, and his work was highly regarded in his time.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Sim also spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Scottish migration and exploration. Today, the name can be found in various countries, but its roots can be traced back to its Scottish origins and the flat or level ground that likely inspired its initial use.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sim families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sim 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. Aberdeenshire leads with 1,079 Sims recorded in 1881 and an index of 35.50x.

County Total Index
Aberdeenshire 1,079 35.50x
Lanarkshire 341 3.21x
Angus 216 7.10x
Morayshire 190 37.26x
Banffshire 161 23.65x
Perthshire 144 9.78x
Lancashire 137 0.35x
Cumberland 136 4.81x
Ayrshire 110 4.48x
Midlothian 109 2.48x
Renfrewshire 92 3.62x
Middlesex 76 0.23x
Kincardineshire 65 16.27x
Stirlingshire 60 4.96x
Fife 59 3.04x
Surrey 34 0.21x
Yorkshire 33 0.10x
Northumberland 31 0.63x
Inverness-shire 29 2.96x
Durham 27 0.28x
Argyllshire 26 2.85x
Buteshire 21 10.56x
Westmorland 16 2.22x
Dunbartonshire 15 1.70x
Cornwall 13 0.35x
Hampshire 13 0.19x
Norfolk 12 0.24x
Roxburghshire 11 1.85x
Devon 8 0.12x
Gloucestershire 8 0.12x
Kent 8 0.07x
Ross-shire 8 0.89x
Sussex 8 0.14x
Sutherland 7 2.77x
Bedfordshire 6 0.35x
Berwickshire 6 1.51x
West Lothian 6 1.21x
Wiltshire 6 0.21x
Hertfordshire 5 0.22x
Nottinghamshire 4 0.09x
Royal Navy 4 1.02x
East Lothian 3 0.69x
Isle of Man 3 0.49x
Nairnshire 3 3.00x
Peeblesshire 3 1.94x
Essex 2 0.03x
Oxfordshire 2 0.10x
Caithness 1 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.05x
Cheshire 1 0.01x
Dorset 1 0.05x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.14x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.21x
Shetland 1 0.30x
Warwickshire 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdeen Old Machar in Aberdeenshire leads with 176 Sims recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.74x.

Place Total Index
Aberdeen Old Machar 176 27.74x
Pitsligo 171 588.64x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 96 16.88x
Glasgow 84 4.46x
Govan 82 3.12x
Barony 80 2.98x
Fraserburgh 64 74.81x
Elgin 52 52.42x
Dundee 51 4.49x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 45 2.54x
Arbroath 37 36.72x
Stewarton 36 74.09x
Fyvie 35 70.58x
Turriff 33 67.28x
Peterhead 30 18.67x
Cullen 28 110.98x
Inverness 26 10.55x
Paisley High Church 26 12.84x
Abbey 25 6.44x
Aberdour 25 104.38x
Strichen 25 94.66x
Marnoch 24 65.66x
South Leith 21 4.25x
Tyrie 21 55.05x
Cruden 20 51.10x
Hamilton 20 6.76x
Knockando 20 96.53x
Rothes 20 80.42x
St Vigeans 20 12.19x
Eastwood 19 12.13x
Inverurie 19 55.28x
King Edward 19 54.25x
New Deer 19 34.53x
Dunkeld Dowally 18 371.90x
Foveran 18 78.26x
Kilwinning 18 22.70x
West Newton Allonby 18 182.93x
Alves 17 134.28x
Carmyllie 17 131.27x
Crimond 17 181.62x
Forfar 17 10.33x
Insch 17 98.32x
Maryhill 17 8.18x
Strachan 17 217.95x
Banff 16 27.06x
Gamrie 16 21.06x
Birnie 15 364.08x
Blantyre 15 13.58x
Ellon 15 35.89x
Walton Le Dale 15 14.34x
Belhelvie 14 67.37x
Drainie 14 30.99x
Keith 14 19.29x
Little Dunkeld 14 56.02x
Liverpool 14 0.59x
Muncaster 14 232.95x
Tarves 14 48.71x
Birkby 13 1120.69x
Crathie Braemar 13 71.55x
Montrose 13 7.06x
Old Deer 13 22.57x
Abbotshall 12 16.53x
Birse 12 97.48x
Bothkennar 12 33.21x
Cockermouth 12 20.17x
Fettercairn 12 70.59x
Heigham 12 4.43x
Inverkeithny 12 115.72x
Kinghorn 12 29.10x
Moulin 12 51.57x
Rathen 12 37.68x
Aldershot 11 4.88x
Alvah 11 71.75x
Culsalmond 11 117.65x
Egremont 11 16.33x
Falkirk 11 3.88x
Forres 11 20.53x
Mabe 11 144.17x
Muthill 11 57.23x
Slamannan 11 16.60x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 37
John 36
James 26
Thomas 22
Joseph 19
George 14
Arthur 10
Henry 10
Robert 10
Alexander 9
Edward 6
Isaac 6
Charles 4
Peter 4
Richard 4
Alfred 3
Benjamin 3
David 3
Joshua 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Albert 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Gilbert 2
Jonathan 2
Walter 2
Archibald 1
Donald 1
Ernest 1
G...ia 1
Geo. 1
Hugh 1
Huson 1
Jackson 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Duncan 1
Johanathan 1
Josiah 1
Kelso 1
Lenord 1
Llewellyn 1
Mark 1
Montague 1
Phillip 1
Robt. 1
Roderick 1
Sabastion 1
Samul 1

FAQ

Sim surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sim surname in 1881?

In 1881, 598 people were recorded with the Sim surname. That placed it at #5,850 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sim surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,818 in 2016. That gives Sim a modern rank of #1,407.

What does the Sim surname mean?

A Scottish toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "narrow" or "straight" in Old English.

What does the Sim map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sim 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.