UK surname
An occupational surname derived from a person who simmered or heated foods.
In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Simmer surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #31,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Simmer is 133 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 66.7%.
1881 census count
18
Ranked #31,019
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1891
133 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Simmer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Simmer 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 | 121 | #15,049 |
| 1861 | historical | 115 | #18,880 |
| 1881 | historical | 18 | #31,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 133 | #19,870 |
| 1901 | historical | 44 | #29,276 |
| 1911 | historical | 57 | #27,099 |
| 1997 | modern | 11 | #36,912 |
| 1998 | modern | 8 | #37,334 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 1 | #38,735 |
| 2006 | modern | 1 | #38,879 |
| 2007 | modern | 1 | #38,907 |
| 2008 | modern | 2 | #38,673 |
| 2009 | modern | 1 | #38,998 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 1 | #39,015 |
| 2012 | modern | 4 | #38,335 |
| 2013 | modern | 4 | #38,359 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, London parishes, St Pancras, Gorleston and Manchester. 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 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Gorleston | Suffolk |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Simmer 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 Simmer, 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 Simmer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Simmer 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, Simmer 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 Simmer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Simmer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Simmer is of Germanic origin and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. Its earliest recorded spellings include Symmer, Symmere, and Simmere, derived from the Old High German word "sumaren," meaning "summer." This suggests that the name may have been given to someone born or working during the summer months.
One of the earliest known references to the name Simmer can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which recorded landowners in England following the Norman Conquest. The entry mentions a landowner named Symmer in the county of Wiltshire.
During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records across Germanic regions, including the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, which mentions a Wilhelm Symmer in 1248, and the Bremisches Urkundenbuch, which records a Johan Simmere in 1279.
In the 15th century, the name Simmer was found in the Netherlands, with records showing a Gerrit Simmer living in Amsterdam in 1462. Around the same time, the name was also present in Scotland, with a John Simmyr recorded in Aberdeen in 1493.
Notable individuals with the surname Simmer include:
1. Johann Simmer (1530-1584), a German theologian and reformer from Saxony. 2. Pieter Simmer (1612-1673), a Dutch painter and engraver known for his landscapes and cityscapes. 3. Christoph Simmer (1734-1807), a German composer and organist from Saxony. 4. John Simmer (1822-1901), a Scottish politician and businessman who served as a Member of Parliament for Aberdeen. 5. Wilhelm Simmer (1876-1942), a German architect who designed several notable buildings in Berlin during the early 20th century.
While the name Simmer has its roots in the Germanic regions, it has since spread to various parts of the world, with families bearing this surname found in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Simmer 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. Norfolk leads with 5 Simmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.82x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Norfolk | 5 | 27.82x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 1.44x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 1.71x |
| Surrey | 2 | 3.51x |
| Kent | 1 | 2.51x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Banham in Norfolk leads with 5 Simmers recorded in 1881 and an index of 10000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Banham | 5 | 10000.00x |
| Newington | 2 | 46.30x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 46.95x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 11.88x |
| North Meols | 1 | 73.53x |
| St Pancras London | 1 | 10.63x |
| Westminster St John | 1 | 70.42x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Simmer 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 Simmer 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 Simmer households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 2 |
| Ag Lab | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| General Serv Domestic | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Pupil Teacher | 1 |
| Upholsters Clerk | 1 |
| Wood Chopper (Dlr) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Simmer surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Simmer a modern rank of #38,110.
An occupational surname derived from a person who simmered or heated foods.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Simmer 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.