UK surname
A variant spelling of the surname Simmons, derived from a diminutive form of the Hebrew name Simon.
In the 1881 census there were 136 people recorded with the Simmon surname, ranking it #16,433 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 32, ranked #35,887, down from #16,433 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Simmon is 559 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 76.5%.
1881 census count
136
Ranked #16,433
Modern count
32
2016, ranked #35,887
Peak year
1861
559 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Simmon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Simmon 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 | 179 | #11,346 |
| 1861 | historical | 559 | #4,715 |
| 1881 | historical | 136 | #16,433 |
| 1891 | historical | 500 | #7,430 |
| 1901 | historical | 160 | #17,387 |
| 1911 | historical | 245 | #13,084 |
| 1997 | modern | 53 | #32,329 |
| 1998 | modern | 46 | #33,286 |
| 1999 | modern | 52 | #32,848 |
| 2000 | modern | 40 | #33,976 |
| 2001 | modern | 34 | #34,356 |
| 2002 | modern | 39 | #34,219 |
| 2003 | modern | 38 | #34,361 |
| 2004 | modern | 43 | #34,149 |
| 2005 | modern | 40 | #34,562 |
| 2006 | modern | 41 | #34,788 |
| 2007 | modern | 38 | #35,153 |
| 2008 | modern | 39 | #35,191 |
| 2009 | modern | 46 | #34,918 |
| 2010 | modern | 49 | #34,886 |
| 2011 | modern | 44 | #35,161 |
| 2012 | modern | 36 | #35,595 |
| 2013 | modern | 34 | #35,761 |
| 2014 | modern | 33 | #35,843 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 32 | #35,887 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Portsmouth, Portsea, St Marylebone, Brancepeth and Brighton. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| 3 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | Brancepeth | Durham |
| 5 | Brighton | Sussex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Simmon 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 Simmon, 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 Simmon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Simmon 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, Simmon 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 Simmon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Simmon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "SIMMON" is believed to have originated in England, with its roots traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English personal name "Sim," which is a shortened form of the name "Simon." The name "Simon" itself is derived from the Hebrew name "Shim'on," meaning "he has heard."
During the Middle Ages, surnames were often derived from personal names or occupations. The addition of the suffix "-on" or "-son" was a common practice to indicate "son of." Therefore, the surname "SIMMON" likely meant "son of Sim" or "son of Simon."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "SIMMON" can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners and their properties in England, commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This record suggests that the surname was already in use by the late 11th century.
In the 13th century, the surname "SIMMON" appeared in various historical records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire and the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire. These records often listed individuals with the surname "SIMMON" as landowners or tenants.
Notable historical figures bearing the surname "SIMMON" include:
1. John Simmon (c. 1480 - 1551), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Bishop of Winchester. 2. Thomas Simmon (c. 1560 - 1628), an English writer and theologian, known for his work "The Historie of the Moderne Protestant Divines." 3. Mary Simmon (c. 1630 - 1692), an English Quaker preacher and writer, notable for her autobiographical work "A Relation of the Travels and Sufferings of Mary Simmon." 4. Robert Simmon (1700 - 1778), a Scottish architect and surveyor, renowned for his work on various churches and public buildings in Edinburgh. 5. William Simmon (1770 - 1843), an English painter and engraver, known for his landscape paintings and etchings of rural scenes.
Over time, the surname "SIMMON" has undergone various spelling variations, such as "Simmons," "Simmond," and "Symonds." These variations can often be traced back to regional dialects or phonetic adaptations.
While the surname "SIMMON" has its origins in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through migration and colonization. However, the etymology and historical significance of the name remain rooted in its English beginnings and the legacy of the personal name "Simon."
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Simmon 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. Middlesex leads with 29 Simmons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.25x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 29 | 2.25x |
| Staffordshire | 17 | 3.91x |
| Lancashire | 12 | 0.79x |
| Surrey | 12 | 1.91x |
| Kent | 7 | 1.59x |
| Sussex | 7 | 3.22x |
| Glamorgan | 5 | 2.23x |
| Gloucestershire | 5 | 1.98x |
| Midlothian | 5 | 2.90x |
| Hampshire | 4 | 1.52x |
| Norfolk | 4 | 2.02x |
| Cornwall | 3 | 2.06x |
| Fife | 3 | 3.94x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 1.80x |
| Devon | 2 | 0.75x |
| Essex | 2 | 0.79x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 1.28x |
| Warwickshire | 2 | 0.62x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.16x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 1.03x |
| Dumfriesshire | 1 | 3.52x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.26x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 2.89x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 0.70x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.49x |
| Monmouthshire | 1 | 1.07x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sedgley in Staffordshire leads with 10 Simmons recorded in 1881 and an index of 61.96x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Simmon 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 Simmon 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 Simmon households.
FAQ
In 1881, 136 people were recorded with the Simmon surname. That placed it at #16,433 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 32 in 2016. That gives Simmon a modern rank of #35,887.
A variant spelling of the surname Simmons, derived from a diminutive form of the Hebrew name Simon.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Simmon 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.