NameCensus.

UK surname

Simister

A locational surname referring to someone from Simister, a town near Bury, Greater Manchester.

In the 1881 census there were 785 people recorded with the Simister surname, ranking it #4,732 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 815, ranked #6,804, down from #4,732 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Glossop and Ashton-under-Lyne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, South Lakeland and Manchester.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Simister is 1,071 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.8%.

1881 census count

785

Ranked #4,732

Modern count

815

2016, ranked #6,804

Peak year

1901

1,071 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Simister had 785 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,732 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 815 in 2016, ranked #6,804.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,071 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Simister surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Simister surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Simister 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 341 #6,892
1861 historical 454 #5,705
1881 historical 785 #4,732
1891 historical 784 #5,119
1901 historical 1,071 #4,509
1911 historical 1,045 #4,395
1997 modern 797 #6,556
1998 modern 843 #6,478
1999 modern 835 #6,572
2000 modern 835 #6,551
2001 modern 817 #6,534
2002 modern 840 #6,523
2003 modern 825 #6,483
2004 modern 809 #6,609
2005 modern 781 #6,729
2006 modern 780 #6,764
2007 modern 801 #6,679
2008 modern 816 #6,629
2009 modern 832 #6,674
2010 modern 839 #6,759
2011 modern 827 #6,757
2012 modern 831 #6,649
2013 modern 834 #6,724
2014 modern 836 #6,746
2015 modern 818 #6,807
2016 modern 815 #6,804

Geography

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Where Simisters are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Glossop, Ashton-under-Lyne and Prestwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, South Lakeland, Manchester, Cheshire West and Chester and Salford. 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 Manchester Lancashire
2 Glossop Derbyshire
3 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire
4 Prestwich Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 003 Powys
2 South Lakeland 011 South Lakeland
3 Manchester 050 Manchester
4 Cheshire West and Chester 029 Cheshire West and Chester
5 Salford 017 Salford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Simister

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Simister

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Simister 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

Simister is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Simister falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Simister

The surname Simister originated in England, specifically in the county of Lancashire. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "syme" meaning "ridge" and "hyrst" meaning "wooded hill." Together, these words formed the name "Symehyrst," which eventually evolved into the modern spelling "Simister."

The earliest recorded instance of the name Simister can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Simistreworde," referring to a location in Lancashire. This suggests that the name was initially associated with a place before becoming a hereditary surname.

During the medieval period, the Simister family held lands and properties in the areas around Prestwich and Middleton, near Manchester. Several members of the family were involved in local affairs and served as officials or held positions of authority within their communities.

One notable figure from the Simister family was John Simister, who lived in the late 15th century and was a prominent landowner in the area of Heywood, Lancashire. Records indicate that he played an active role in the local administration and was respected among his peers.

In the 17th century, the Simister name gained further recognition when Richard Simister (1623-1685) became a successful merchant and trader in the city of Manchester. His business ventures allowed him to accumulate significant wealth, and he was known for his philanthropic efforts, including the founding of a school in Middleton.

Another notable individual with the Simister surname was Thomas Simister (1772-1846), a renowned clockmaker and inventor from Bolton, Lancashire. His innovative timepieces were highly sought after, and he is credited with several patents for his horological inventions.

The Simister name also has connections to the literary world, with the 19th-century author and poet Elizabeth Simister (1818-1887) hailing from the village of Pendlebury, near Manchester. Her works, which often explored themes of nature and rural life, were well-received during her lifetime.

While the Simister surname has its roots in Lancashire, it has since spread to other parts of England and beyond, with families bearing this name found across the United Kingdom and in various parts of the world.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Simister families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Simister 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. Lancashire leads with 461 Simisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.09x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 461 5.09x
Staffordshire 77 2.99x
Cheshire 70 4.15x
Shropshire 52 7.88x
Derbyshire 40 3.35x
Yorkshire 35 0.46x
Essex 9 0.60x
Warwickshire 8 0.42x
Middlesex 7 0.09x
Wiltshire 6 0.89x
Somerset 5 0.41x
Gloucestershire 3 0.20x
Worcestershire 3 0.30x
Flintshire 2 0.97x
Hampshire 2 0.13x
Denbighshire 1 0.35x
Dorset 1 0.20x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldham in Lancashire leads with 55 Simisters recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.80x.

Place Total Index
Oldham 55 18.80x
Ashton Under Lyne 54 27.26x
Manchester 46 11.29x
Salford 40 15.01x
Worsley 30 53.70x
Hulme 27 14.27x
Failsworth 25 120.54x
Pendleton In Salford 21 19.45x
Stayley 21 108.98x
Chadderton 19 42.88x
Hadnall 19 1366.91x
Newton 16 22.91x
Beard Ollerset Whitle 15 190.60x
Drayton In Hales 15 110.29x
Hyde 14 28.14x
Chorlton On Medlock 13 9.03x
Stoke Upon Trent 13 4.75x
Openshaw 12 28.27x
Wolstanton Chesterton 12 91.05x
Heaton Norris 11 21.32x
Stockport 11 12.68x
Bury 10 9.66x
Levenshulme 10 107.18x
Macclesfield 9 12.01x
West Ham 9 2.70x
Aston 8 1.51x
Bushbury 8 172.79x
Gnosall 8 128.62x
Harpurhey 8 63.59x
Swinton In Rotherham 8 39.98x
Ardwick 7 8.56x
Barton Upon Irwell 7 10.26x
Clerkenwell London 7 3.88x
Horton 7 221.52x
Ludworth 7 124.33x
Ollersett 7 300.43x
Glossop Dale 6 10.71x
Leeds 6 1.40x
Madeley 6 93.31x
York St Maurice 6 42.11x
Audley 5 19.60x
Bradford On Avon 5 23.13x
Crumpsall 5 23.41x
Droylsden 5 16.91x
Everton 5 1.73x
Toxteth Park 5 1.63x
Whitchurch 5 39.03x
Burslem 4 5.42x
Dukinfield 4 5.13x
Hodnet 4 77.52x
Liverpool 4 0.73x
Lyncombe Widcombe 4 12.43x
Whittington 4 24.18x
Wolstanton Knutton 4 25.41x
Worsbrough 4 18.03x
Bollington In 3 19.99x
Gorton 3 3.52x
Great Bolton 3 2.50x
Hinstock 3 132.74x
Little Bolton 3 2.57x
North Meols 3 3.38x
Saddleworth 3 5.14x
Shrewsbury St Mary 3 11.52x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 3 8.53x
Wombwell 3 13.59x
Bradford 2 4.71x
Broughton In Salford 2 2.41x
Castleton 2 2.21x
Darcy Lever 2 38.31x
Great Malvern 2 9.61x
Huntington 2 434.78x
Moreton Say 2 117.65x
Newton In Ashton Under 2 12.02x
Portsea 2 0.65x
Rhuddlan 2 11.07x
Runcorn 2 5.15x
West Derby 2 0.75x
Wolverhampton 2 1.01x
Clifton 1 1.32x
Walton Le Dale 1 4.11x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 54
Elizabeth 34
Sarah 33
Ann 19
Alice 18
Eliza 16
Jane 16
Annie 13
Emma 13
Hannah 13
Margaret 13
Ellen 11
Clara 10
Martha 10
Harriet 9
Emily 7
Lucy 6
Ada 5
Agnes 4
Amelia 4
Maria 4
Anne 3
Betty 3
Fanny 3
Harriett 3
Bertha 2
Caroline 2
Edith 2
Edna 2
Eliz. 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Leah 2
Louisa 2
Maud 2
Nancy 2
Phoebe 2
Rachel 2
Anna 1
Catherine 1
Elizer 1
Elizth. 1
Emmeline 1
Ester 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Lilian 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 52
James 49
William 47
Thomas 36
Joseph 23
George 18
Robert 12
Samuel 10
Charles 9
Edward 9
Henry 9
Alfred 7
Arthur 7
Edwin 5
Ernest 5
Harry 5
Timothy 5
Daniel 4
Edmund 4
Walter 4
Benjamin 3
Chas. 3
Fredk. 3
Richard 3
Wm. 3
Albert 2
Andrew 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Nicholas 2
Wm.Thos. 2
Allen 1
Charlie 1
Dan 1
David 1
Douglas 1
Elijha 1
Elisha 1
Fred 1
Fredrick 1
Geo.Hy. 1
Geo.S. 1
Geofrey 1
J.E. 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Hy. 1
Jno. 1
Joh 1
Jonathan 1
Percy 1

FAQ

Simister surname: questions and answers

How common was the Simister surname in 1881?

In 1881, 785 people were recorded with the Simister surname. That placed it at #4,732 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Simister surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 815 in 2016. That gives Simister a modern rank of #6,804.

What does the Simister surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Simister, a town near Bury, Greater Manchester.

What does the Simister map show?

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