UK surname
A locational surname derived from places named Simondston or variations of it.
In the 1881 census there were 34 people recorded with the Simmens surname, ranking it #28,837 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 22, ranked #36,533, down from #28,837 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Penhurst, Dudley and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Simmens is 176 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 35.3%.
1881 census count
34
Ranked #28,837
Modern count
22
2016, ranked #36,533
Peak year
1861
176 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Simmens surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Simmens surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 55 | #23,413 |
| 1861 | historical | 176 | #13,335 |
| 1881 | historical | 34 | #28,837 |
| 1891 | historical | 133 | #19,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 42 | #29,487 |
| 1911 | historical | 31 | #29,952 |
| 1997 | modern | 23 | #35,484 |
| 1998 | modern | 24 | #35,488 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 18 | #35,961 |
| 2002 | modern | 16 | #36,267 |
| 2003 | modern | 19 | #36,011 |
| 2004 | modern | 19 | #36,147 |
| 2005 | modern | 23 | #35,924 |
| 2006 | modern | 26 | #35,822 |
| 2007 | modern | 24 | #36,072 |
| 2008 | modern | 24 | #36,148 |
| 2009 | modern | 23 | #36,313 |
| 2010 | modern | 22 | #36,462 |
| 2011 | modern | 22 | #36,430 |
| 2012 | modern | 19 | #36,641 |
| 2013 | modern | 20 | #36,614 |
| 2014 | modern | 20 | #36,654 |
| 2015 | modern | 21 | #36,574 |
| 2016 | modern | 22 | #36,533 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Penhurst, Dudley, London parishes, Manaccan and Salehurst. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Penhurst | Sussex |
| 2 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 4 | Manaccan | Cornwall |
| 5 | Salehurst | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Simmens surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Simmens, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Simmens surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Simmens household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Simmens is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Simmens is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Simmens, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SIMMENS is believed to have originated in England, likely during the late medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English personal name "Simun," which in turn comes from the Biblical name "Simon."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SIMMENS can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, compiled in 1273, which mentions a "Willelmus Simmens." This suggests that the name was already in use by the 13th century.
The SIMMENS surname may also be connected to various place names in England, such as Simmondsbury in Gloucestershire or Simondstone in Lancashire. These locations likely took their names from early settlers or landowners bearing the SIMMENS surname.
In the 16th century, records show a John SIMMENS born in 1524 in Yorkshire, who was a prominent merchant and landowner. Another notable figure from this period was William SIMMENS, born in 1568 in Lincolnshire, who served as a magistrate and played a role in local governance.
During the 17th century, the SIMMENS surname gained further prominence with individuals like Robert SIMMENS (1612-1688), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Devon, and Mary SIMMENS (1635-1702), a renowned herbalist and author from Oxfordshire.
In the 18th century, a notable bearer of the SIMMENS name was Samuel SIMMENS (1728-1804), a respected clergyman and scholar who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Nottinghamshire.
As the SIMMENS surname spread across England and beyond, it also experienced variations in spelling, such as Simmons, Simmonds, and Simmons. However, the core origin and meaning of the name remained rooted in its English heritage and connection to the personal name "Simon."
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Simmens surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 7 Simmens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.33x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Surrey | 7 | 4.33x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 6.83x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 11.19x |
| Sussex | 4 | 7.16x |
| Cornwall | 3 | 7.99x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.90x |
| Norfolk | 2 | 3.92x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 2.39x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.88x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 1.89x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 2.48x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Radford in Nottinghamshire leads with 5 Simmens' recorded in 1881 and an index of 220.26x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Radford | 5 | 220.26x |
| Runcorn | 5 | 295.86x |
| Ifield | 4 | 1739.13x |
| Linkinhorne | 3 | 1153.85x |
| Richmond | 3 | 132.74x |
| Battersea | 2 | 16.39x |
| Leamington Priors | 2 | 97.09x |
| Limehouse London | 2 | 54.95x |
| Shere | 2 | 1000.00x |
| Ealing | 1 | 33.78x |
| Lakenham | 1 | 138.89x |
| Oulton | 1 | 714.29x |
| Scunthorpe | 1 | 416.67x |
| Stalham | 1 | 1000.00x |
| Tonbridge | 1 | 24.51x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Simmens surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Simmens surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Simmens households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 4 |
| Annuitant | 2 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Draper Assistant | 1 |
| Estate Agent And Coal Merchant Employing 1 Clerk And 4 Men | 1 |
| Fancy Business (Goods) | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| Genl Labr | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Junr Clerk | 1 |
| Kitchen Maid | 1 |
| Lab | 1 |
| Lace Maker | 1 |
| Lower Division Clerk Admiralty | 1 |
| Mine Clerk | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
| Platelayer | 1 |
| Tailor | 1 |
| Take Relief | 1 |
| Wife | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 34 people were recorded with the Simmens surname. That placed it at #28,837 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 22 in 2016. That gives Simmens a modern rank of #36,533.
A locational surname derived from places named Simondston or variations of it.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Simmens bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.