NameCensus.

UK surname

Simms

Derived from a medieval form of Simon, which comes from the Hebrew name Shimon, meaning "he has heard."

In the 1881 census there were 3,429 people recorded with the Simms surname, ranking it #1,332 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,734, ranked #1,002, up from #1,332 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, West Oxfordshire and East Northamptonshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Simms is 6,964 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 96.4%.

1881 census count

3,429

Ranked #1,332

Modern count

6,734

2016, ranked #1,002

Peak year

2010

6,964 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Simms had 3,429 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,332 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,734 in 2016, ranked #1,002.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,730 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Simms surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Simms surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Simms 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 1,779 #1,620
1861 historical 1,459 #1,944
1881 historical 3,429 #1,332
1891 historical 3,275 #1,449
1901 historical 4,190 #1,344
1911 historical 4,730 #1,093
1997 modern 6,076 #1,080
1998 modern 6,582 #1,038
1999 modern 6,692 #1,022
2000 modern 6,527 #1,048
2001 modern 6,395 #1,044
2002 modern 6,550 #1,042
2003 modern 6,326 #1,057
2004 modern 6,295 #1,062
2005 modern 6,293 #1,044
2006 modern 6,355 #1,030
2007 modern 6,437 #1,024
2008 modern 6,504 #1,019
2009 modern 6,741 #1,006
2010 modern 6,964 #996
2011 modern 6,810 #1,002
2012 modern 6,697 #1,001
2013 modern 6,807 #1,005
2014 modern 6,830 #1,005
2015 modern 6,781 #1,000
2016 modern 6,734 #1,002

Geography

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Where Simms' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Redcar and Cleveland, West Oxfordshire, East Northamptonshire, Rotherham and North Hertfordshire. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Sutton-in-Ashfield, Fulwood Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 009 Redcar and Cleveland
2 West Oxfordshire 001 West Oxfordshire
3 East Northamptonshire 005 East Northamptonshire
4 Rotherham 026 Rotherham
5 North Hertfordshire 012 North Hertfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Simms

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Simms

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Simms, 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 Simms surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Simms 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, Simms 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

Simms is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Simms 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 Simms 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 Simms, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Simms

The surname Simms has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is derived from the medieval English personal name 'Sim', which is a shortened form of 'Simon'. The name Simon itself is of Hebrew origin, meaning 'he has heard'.

Simms is believed to have originated as a patronymic surname, meaning it was originally used to identify someone as the son of Sim or Simon. Early records show variations in spelling, such as Sims, Simmes, and Symms.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Simms can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1195, where a man named William Simmes is mentioned. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also include entries for individuals with the surname Simms.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various locations across England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Essex. Some notable individuals with the surname Simms during this period include John Simms, a merchant from London who was mentioned in records from 1379, and Robert Simms, a landowner in Cambridgeshire who was recorded in the Feet of Fines in 1390.

Over the centuries, the Simms surname has been associated with various place names in England, such as Simmondley in Derbyshire and Simmondburn in Northumberland. These place names may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in certain regions.

One of the earliest documented instances of the Simms surname in England is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a landowner named Simund is mentioned in Norfolk. While not directly related to the surname Simms, this entry suggests the presence of similar names in the region at the time.

Notable individuals with the surname Simms throughout history include:

1. William Gilmore Simms (1806-1870), an American writer and poet from South Carolina. 2. Frederick Walter Simms (1803-1865), an English painter known for his landscapes and coastal scenes. 3. Andrew Simms (1756-1832), an English clergyman and writer who served as the Rector of St. Paul's Church in Deptford. 4. Michael Simms (1928-2012), an American actor and voice artist best known for his work in animation. 5. William Simms (1832-1903), a English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Sussex County Cricket Club.

The surname Simms has a rich history, spanning centuries and crossing various regions of England, before eventually spreading to other parts of the world through migration and settlement.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Simms families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Simms 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 407 Simms' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.03x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 407 1.03x
Yorkshire 331 1.01x
Middlesex 291 0.88x
Surrey 245 1.51x
Oxfordshire 242 11.79x
Staffordshire 207 1.85x
Warwickshire 192 2.29x
Gloucestershire 142 2.18x
Bedfordshire 137 7.96x
Nottinghamshire 113 2.52x
Cheshire 104 1.42x
Kent 87 0.77x
Worcestershire 84 1.94x
Derbyshire 83 1.60x
Hampshire 83 1.22x
Somerset 61 1.14x
Lincolnshire 59 1.11x
Durham 52 0.53x
Sussex 51 0.91x
Buckinghamshire 48 2.39x
Berkshire 44 1.76x
Leicestershire 43 1.17x
Essex 35 0.53x
Devon 32 0.46x
Norfolk 31 0.61x
Wiltshire 31 1.05x
Northamptonshire 27 0.86x
Monmouthshire 20 0.83x
Glamorgan 18 0.31x
Hertfordshire 17 0.74x
Northumberland 13 0.26x
Denbighshire 12 0.96x
Pembrokeshire 9 0.85x
Huntingdonshire 8 1.21x
Cornwall 7 0.19x
Rutland 6 2.46x
Shropshire 6 0.21x
Carmarthenshire 5 0.36x
Cumberland 4 0.14x
Lanarkshire 4 0.04x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.14x
Royal Navy 3 0.76x
Dorset 2 0.09x
Midlothian 2 0.04x
Anglesey 1 0.17x
Brecknockshire 1 0.15x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.07x
Herefordshire 1 0.07x
Isle of Man 1 0.16x
Radnorshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 66 Simms' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.86x.

Place Total Index
Aston 66 2.86x
Oxford St Giles 59 60.25x
Birmingham 43 1.54x
Hawnes 39 366.89x
Islington London 35 1.09x
Chipping Norton 33 69.55x
West Bromwich 31 4.83x
Chelsea London 29 2.90x
Nottingham St Mary 29 2.50x
Sutton In Ashfield 28 28.80x
Brighton 27 2.39x
Coventry St Michael 26 9.66x
Kingston On Thames 25 6.43x
Stourbridge 25 22.39x
West Ham 24 1.66x
Lambeth 22 0.76x
Portsea 22 1.65x
St Marylebone London 22 1.24x
Oxford St Thomas 21 21.93x
Bilston 19 8.74x
Hipperholme Cum 19 13.13x
Leicester St Margaret 19 2.11x
Acton 17 8.73x
Brailes 17 132.09x
Eccleston In Prescot 17 8.59x
Oldham 17 1.34x
Oxford St Aldate 17 78.70x
Blacktoft 16 423.28x
Elland Cum Greetland 16 10.78x
Southill 16 114.70x
Aylesbury 15 16.85x
Bedford 15 18.18x
Burslem 15 4.67x
Congleton 15 11.83x
Croydon 15 1.67x
Westcote 15 714.29x
Wimbledon 15 8.25x
Carshalton 14 22.59x
Cowley 14 21.85x
Dalton In Furness 14 9.20x
Manchester 14 0.79x
Monk Bretton 14 41.99x
New Windsor 14 16.69x
Poplar London 14 2.23x
St George Hanover 14 3.23x
Stoke Upon Trent 14 1.18x
Battersea 13 1.06x
Clerkenwell London 13 1.66x
Fairford 13 74.67x
Handsworth 13 4.70x
Odd Rode 13 35.77x
Sheffield 13 1.24x
Wandsworth 13 4.06x
Audley 12 10.81x
Batley 12 3.83x
Bootle Cum Linacre 12 3.83x
Cardington 12 85.71x
Dewsbury 12 3.55x
Dudley 12 2.27x
Sculcoates 12 2.30x
St Pancras London 12 0.45x
Airmyn 11 194.00x
Allerton 11 26.20x
Ardwick 11 3.09x
Darfield 11 36.69x
Farnham 11 8.74x
Farnworth 11 4.66x
Kettering 11 8.70x
Millbrook 11 6.41x
Quainton 11 111.68x
Southwark St George Martyr 11 1.64x
Walcot 11 3.86x
Walsall Foreign 11 1.90x
Woolwich 11 2.63x
Ashton Under Lyne 10 1.16x
Broomfleet 10 362.32x
Halewood 10 47.33x
Hulme 10 1.21x
Llandaff 10 5.19x
Woolvercot 10 119.90x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 234
Sarah 127
Elizabeth 112
Emma 68
Eliza 63
Ann 60
Ellen 57
Jane 55
Annie 53
Alice 47
Hannah 42
Martha 42
Emily 40
Ada 28
Harriet 26
Louisa 25
Fanny 22
Anne 21
Caroline 21
Kate 21
Margaret 21
Agnes 20
Charlotte 19
Edith 18
Florence 17
Susan 15
Clara 13
Frances 13
Maria 13
Amelia 12
Catherine 12
Esther 12
Beatrice 11
Harriett 11
Lucy 11
Rose 11
Laura 10
Isabella 9
Selina 8
Anna 7
Jessie 7
Lizzie 7
Rebecca 7
Sophia 7
Amy 6
Gertrude 6
Minnie 6
Rachel 6
Bessie 5
Julia 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 221
John 190
George 130
Thomas 128
James 112
Henry 69
Joseph 65
Charles 62
Arthur 49
Edward 43
Alfred 42
Robert 31
Frederick 30
Richard 30
Samuel 30
Albert 29
Walter 29
Harry 27
Ernest 14
Francis 13
Frank 12
Herbert 12
David 11
Edwin 10
Thos. 10
Benjamin 9
Fredk. 9
Fred 8
Daniel 7
Fredrick 7
Isaac 7
Wm. 7
Geo. 6
Willie 6
Archibald 4
Ephraim 4
Alexander 3
Chas. 3
Earnest 3
Edgar 3
Elijah 3
Jas. 3
Levi 3
Lewis 3
Patrick 3
Percy 3
Robt. 3
Sidney 3
Stephen 3
Tom 3

FAQ

Simms surname: questions and answers

How common was the Simms surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,429 people were recorded with the Simms surname. That placed it at #1,332 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Simms surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,734 in 2016. That gives Simms a modern rank of #1,002.

What does the Simms surname mean?

Derived from a medieval form of Simon, which comes from the Hebrew name Shimon, meaning "he has heard."

What does the Simms map show?

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