UK surname
A variant surname derived from the Middle English nickname "Simme" or "Simkin".
In the 1881 census there were 161 people recorded with the Simmins surname, ranking it #14,801 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 41, ranked #35,388, down from #14,801 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Sedgley, 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 Simmins is 330 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 74.5%.
1881 census count
161
Ranked #14,801
Modern count
41
2016, ranked #35,388
Peak year
1891
330 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Simmins surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Simmins surname density by area, 1881 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 | 105 | #16,618 |
| 1861 | historical | 235 | #10,427 |
| 1881 | historical | 161 | #14,801 |
| 1891 | historical | 330 | #10,303 |
| 1901 | historical | 146 | #18,335 |
| 1911 | historical | 215 | #14,290 |
| 1997 | modern | 58 | #31,831 |
| 1998 | modern | 57 | #32,226 |
| 1999 | modern | 53 | #32,746 |
| 2000 | modern | 58 | #32,317 |
| 2001 | modern | 55 | #32,482 |
| 2002 | modern | 55 | #32,831 |
| 2003 | modern | 51 | #33,266 |
| 2004 | modern | 49 | #33,647 |
| 2005 | modern | 46 | #34,081 |
| 2006 | modern | 46 | #34,415 |
| 2007 | modern | 44 | #34,760 |
| 2008 | modern | 46 | #34,759 |
| 2009 | modern | 47 | #34,856 |
| 2010 | modern | 50 | #34,833 |
| 2011 | modern | 47 | #34,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 42 | #35,269 |
| 2013 | modern | 44 | #35,222 |
| 2014 | modern | 43 | #35,293 |
| 2015 | modern | 44 | #35,212 |
| 2016 | modern | 41 | #35,388 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Sedgley, Dudley, London parishes, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Edinburgh. 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 | Dudley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 4 | Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard | Nottinghamshire |
| 5 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Simmins 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 Simmins, 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 Simmins surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Simmins 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, Simmins 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 Simmins is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Simmins, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SIMMINS is of English origin, derived from the medieval given name Sim or Simmonds, which were diminutive forms of the name Simon. The name Simon itself is derived from the Hebrew name Shim'on, which means "he has heard."
The earliest recorded instances of the surname SIMMINS can be traced back to the 13th century in various parts of England, such as Essex, Suffolk, and Norfolk. It is believed that the name was initially used as a patronymic, meaning "son of Sim" or "son of Simmonds."
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name SIMMINS is in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1279, where a certain William Simmonds is listed. The Hundred Rolls were administrative records that documented the names of landowners and their holdings at the time.
In the 14th century, the surname SIMMINS appeared in several other historical documents, including the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, where a John Simmins is recorded. The Subsidy Rolls were tax records that listed individuals who were required to pay a certain amount of money to the crown.
During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname SIMMINS began to spread across various regions of England, with notable families emerging in places like Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. One notable bearer of the name was Sir William Simmins (1515-1592), a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
Another distinguished individual with the surname SIMMINS was John Simmins (1670-1742), a renowned clockmaker from London who was known for his innovative designs and precision timepieces. His clocks are still highly sought after by collectors and can be found in museums and private collections around the world.
In the 18th century, the name SIMMINS continued to be prevalent in various parts of England, with records showing individuals bearing the name in counties such as Dorset, Devon, and Cornwall. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Simmins (1725-1798), a successful merchant and landowner in Bristol.
As the centuries progressed, the SIMMINS surname spread further across the British Isles and eventually to other parts of the world, with individuals bearing the name making significant contributions in various fields, including literature, science, and the arts.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Simmins 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. Sussex leads with 23 Simmins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.91x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sussex | 23 | 8.91x |
| Surrey | 18 | 2.41x |
| Middlesex | 16 | 1.04x |
| Staffordshire | 14 | 2.71x |
| Durham | 13 | 2.85x |
| Essex | 10 | 3.31x |
| Lancashire | 10 | 0.55x |
| Kent | 8 | 1.53x |
| Midlothian | 8 | 3.90x |
| Warwickshire | 7 | 1.81x |
| Cheshire | 5 | 1.48x |
| Lanarkshire | 5 | 1.01x |
| Nottinghamshire | 4 | 1.94x |
| Devon | 3 | 0.94x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.20x |
| Cornwall | 2 | 1.15x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.64x |
| Pembrokeshire | 2 | 4.11x |
| Shropshire | 2 | 1.51x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.42x |
| Worcestershire | 1 | 0.50x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ifield in Sussex leads with 12 Simmins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1111.11x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Simmins surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 10 |
| Jane | 5 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Ada | 3 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Catherine | 3 |
| Eliza | 3 |
| Elizabeth | 3 |
| Edith | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Emmeline | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Isabella | 2 |
| Louisa | 2 |
| Agnes | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Daisy | 1 |
| Elizth. | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Frances | 1 |
| Francis | 1 |
| Harriet | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Josephine | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Mabel | 1 |
| Margaret | 1 |
| Mariam | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Nancy | 1 |
| Naomy | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Simmins surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| George | 8 |
| William | 8 |
| Thomas | 7 |
| Charles | 4 |
| John | 4 |
| Henry | 3 |
| James | 3 |
| Joseph | 3 |
| Edward | 2 |
| Harry | 2 |
| Samuel | 2 |
| Alfred | 1 |
| Athur | 1 |
| Daniel | 1 |
| David | 1 |
| Edgar | 1 |
| Edwin | 1 |
| Elias | 1 |
| Frederick | 1 |
| Fredrick | 1 |
| Herbert | 1 |
| Jacob | 1 |
| Joshua | 1 |
| Lewis | 1 |
| Lion | 1 |
| Philip | 1 |
| Richard | 1 |
| S.F. | 1 |
| Saml.Robt. | 1 |
| Simeon | 1 |
| Stephen | 1 |
| Thos. | 1 |
| Tom | 1 |
| W.M. | 1 |
| Walter | 1 |
| Wordey | 1 |
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 Simmins households.
FAQ
In 1881, 161 people were recorded with the Simmins surname. That placed it at #14,801 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 41 in 2016. That gives Simmins a modern rank of #35,388.
A variant surname derived from the Middle English nickname "Simme" or "Simkin".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Simmins 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.