NameCensus.

UK surname

Simes

A geographical surname referring to someone from the town of Sim in France.

In the 1881 census there were 347 people recorded with the Simes surname, ranking it #8,811 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 247, ranked #16,955, down from #8,811 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St George in the East, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pendle, Hastings and Rushcliffe.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Simes is 356 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 28.8%.

1881 census count

347

Ranked #8,811

Modern count

247

2016, ranked #16,955

Peak year

1901

356 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Simes had 347 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,811 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 247 in 2016, ranked #16,955.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 356 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Simes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Simes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Simes 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 344 #6,842
1861 historical 307 #8,262
1881 historical 347 #8,811
1891 historical 312 #10,744
1901 historical 356 #10,305
1911 historical 287 #11,784
1997 modern 256 #15,034
1998 modern 248 #15,772
1999 modern 237 #16,360
2000 modern 251 #15,692
2001 modern 242 #15,832
2002 modern 254 #15,641
2003 modern 239 #16,093
2004 modern 234 #16,416
2005 modern 229 #16,631
2006 modern 233 #16,560
2007 modern 233 #16,752
2008 modern 237 #16,688
2009 modern 240 #16,896
2010 modern 245 #17,013
2011 modern 253 #16,493
2012 modern 262 #16,001
2013 modern 273 #15,802
2014 modern 277 #15,734
2015 modern 246 #16,994
2016 modern 247 #16,955

Geography

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Where Simes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St George in the East, Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, London parishes and St Pancras. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pendle, Hastings, Rushcliffe and Wealden. 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 St George in the East London (East Districts)
2 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 St Pancras London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pendle 009 Pendle
2 Hastings 001 Hastings
3 Rushcliffe 014 Rushcliffe
4 Hastings 002 Hastings
5 Wealden 015 Wealden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Simes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Simes

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Simes, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Simes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Simes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Simes is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Simes 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

Simes falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Simes

The surname SIMES originated in England during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "sime," meaning a ridge or line of hills, suggesting that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived near or on a prominent ridge or hill.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SIMES can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, England, dating back to 1296, where a certain William Simes is mentioned. This indicates that the name was already well-established in the region at that time.

Another notable early reference to the SIMES surname is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John Symes is recorded. This variation in spelling, "Symes," was quite common during the medieval period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.

The name SIMES is also found in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded landowners and tenants across England after the Norman Conquest. However, the spelling in the Domesday Book is slightly different, appearing as "Simes" or "Symmes."

In the 16th century, a notable figure bearing the SIMES surname was John Simes, a Welsh clergyman and author who lived from 1512 to 1580. He is best known for his work "The Pathway to Health," published in 1578, which explored various aspects of health and medicine.

During the 17th century, a prominent bearer of the SIMES surname was Sir John Symes, a wealthy English merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1677. He was known for his involvement in the East India Company and his significant contributions to the city's governance.

Moving into the 18th century, we encounter Mary Simes, an English writer and poet who lived from 1730 to 1805. She published several works, including "Poems on Various Subjects," which gained recognition during her lifetime.

In the 19th century, a notable figure was Thomas Simes, a Scottish journalist and author who lived from 1826 to 1904. He founded and edited the respected journal "The Curators' Chronicle" and wrote extensively on various topics, including horticulture and natural history.

As we can see, the surname SIMES has a rich history spanning several centuries, with its origins rooted in the English landscape and its subsequent spread throughout various regions and professions. While the spelling may have varied over time, the name has maintained its distinct identity and continues to be carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Simes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Simes 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. Middlesex leads with 92 Simes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.71x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 92 2.71x
Sussex 72 12.58x
Kent 33 2.85x
Hampshire 23 3.31x
Surrey 23 1.39x
Devon 13 1.84x
Lancashire 12 0.30x
Dorset 11 4.94x
Worcestershire 10 2.26x
Warwickshire 7 0.82x
Northamptonshire 6 1.88x
Somerset 6 1.10x
Monmouthshire 4 1.63x
Oxfordshire 4 1.91x
Yorkshire 4 0.12x
Cheshire 3 0.40x
Derbyshire 3 0.56x
Durham 3 0.30x
Midlothian 3 0.66x
Bedfordshire 2 1.14x
Essex 2 0.30x
Gloucestershire 2 0.30x
Staffordshire 2 0.17x
Berkshire 1 0.39x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.49x
Kincardineshire 1 2.42x
Lanarkshire 1 0.09x
Lincolnshire 1 0.18x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.22x
Perthshire 1 0.66x
Suffolk 1 0.24x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 13 Simes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.83x.

Place Total Index
Hackney London 13 6.83x
Hastings St Mary In The 11 90.09x
Hastings St Andrew 10 487.80x
Portsea 10 7.33x
St Pancras London 10 3.66x
Bethnal Green London 9 6.10x
Hastings St Mary 9 63.20x
Worcester St Peter 9 107.27x
Cheriton Bishop 8 1159.42x
Edmonton 8 29.25x
Sandhurst 8 588.24x
St George In East 8 34.65x
Withyam 8 326.53x
Birmingham 7 2.45x
Aldershot 6 25.74x
Brightling 6 769.23x
Lambeth 6 2.03x
Wigan 6 10.66x
Egham 5 49.26x
Hellingly 5 260.42x
Kensington London 5 2.65x
Lewisham 5 8.10x
Paddington London 5 4.01x
Poplar London 5 7.80x
Whitechapel London 5 14.94x
Clerkenwell London 4 4.99x
Manchester 4 2.21x
Penge 4 18.45x
South Perrott 4 1142.86x
Spetisbury 4 645.16x
Tonbridge 4 9.58x
Tormoham 4 13.38x
Wellingborough 4 24.92x
Aberystruth 3 13.87x
Battle 3 77.72x
Bishopwearmouth 3 3.46x
Brighton 3 2.60x
Bromley London 3 4.02x
Burwash 3 112.78x
Deptford St Paul 3 3.36x
Liberton 3 42.74x
Minster In Thanet 3 124.48x
Shoreditch London 3 2.04x
Bedford St Paul 2 16.58x
Belper 2 19.42x
Boughton 2 526.32x
Bradford 2 2.46x
Croydon 2 2.18x
Erith 2 17.53x
Ewelme 2 289.86x
Fairlight 2 357.14x
Farnborough 2 27.36x
Hillingdon 2 18.48x
Islington London 2 0.61x
Midsomer Norton 2 38.84x
Mountfield 2 277.78x
Nazeing 2 232.56x
Salehurst 2 80.65x
Sherfield Upon Loddon 2 266.67x
Slinfold 2 222.22x
Speldhurst 2 33.90x
St Nicholas At Wade 2 294.12x
Alford 1 29.76x
Alsager 1 53.48x
Ash Next Ridley 1 136.99x
Bildeston 1 109.89x
Birkenhead 1 1.67x
Curry Mallet 1 175.44x
Dartford 1 8.45x
Govan 1 0.37x
Hale 1 151.52x
Horfield 1 14.93x
Perth West Church 1 13.83x
Spitalfields London 1 3.92x
St Andrew Holborn 1 8.69x
St Thomas Winchester 1 20.37x
Stalbridge 1 47.17x
Ticehurst 1 28.57x
Westminster St James 1 2.87x
Weston Super Mare 1 7.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 24
Sarah 18
Elizabeth 15
Emma 10
Alice 6
Ann 6
Annie 6
Edith 5
Eliza 5
Fanny 5
Hannah 5
Harriet 5
Louisa 5
Emily 4
Clara 3
Ellen 3
Florence 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Rose 3
Ada 2
Amelia 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Eliz. 2
Harriett 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
May 2
Susan 2
Anna 1
Dora 1
Eleanor 1
Eliz.Jane 1
Elizbth 1
Elsie 1
Eva 1
Evangeline 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Isabella 1
James 1
Jessie 1
Katherine 1
Lidia 1
Louise 1
M.E. 1
Marie 1
Matilda 1
Sussanha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
Henry 10
James 10
William 10
Thomas 7
Charles 6
Frederick 6
George 6
Robert 5
Samuel 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Walter 4
Frank 3
Frederic 3
Horace 3
Joseph 3
Thos. 3
Ebenezer 2
Edwd. 2
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Martin 2
Michael 2
Spencer 2
C. 1
David 1
Donald 1
Earnest 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fredk 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
G. 1
G.W. 1
Graham 1
Jesse 1
Jno.Wm. 1
Louis 1
Nehemiah 1
Percy 1
R. 1
Sam 1
Samuell 1
Tilda 1

FAQ

Simes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Simes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 347 people were recorded with the Simes surname. That placed it at #8,811 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Simes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 247 in 2016. That gives Simes a modern rank of #16,955.

What does the Simes surname mean?

A geographical surname referring to someone from the town of Sim in France.

What does the Simes map show?

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