NameCensus.

UK surname

Simonds

Derived from the given name Simon, meaning "to be heard" or "reputation."

In the 1881 census there were 774 people recorded with the Simonds surname, ranking it #4,784 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 628, ranked #8,401, down from #4,784 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Hardwicke and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest of Dean, Mid Suffolk and West Dorset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Simonds is 828 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 18.9%.

1881 census count

774

Ranked #4,784

Modern count

628

2016, ranked #8,401

Peak year

1851

828 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Simonds had 774 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,784 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 628 in 2016, ranked #8,401.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 828 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Simonds surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Simonds surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Simonds 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 828 #3,263
1861 historical 773 #3,560
1881 historical 774 #4,784
1891 historical 785 #5,115
1901 historical 709 #6,223
1911 historical 729 #5,874
1997 modern 584 #8,299
1998 modern 613 #8,263
1999 modern 618 #8,282
2000 modern 601 #8,412
2001 modern 591 #8,377
2002 modern 590 #8,556
2003 modern 594 #8,391
2004 modern 590 #8,453
2005 modern 599 #8,283
2006 modern 610 #8,182
2007 modern 603 #8,319
2008 modern 608 #8,320
2009 modern 622 #8,359
2010 modern 645 #8,294
2011 modern 629 #8,370
2012 modern 616 #8,423
2013 modern 629 #8,429
2014 modern 630 #8,453
2015 modern 627 #8,428
2016 modern 628 #8,401

Geography

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Where Simonds' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Hardwicke, Lambeth, Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), and Mancetter. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest of Dean, Mid Suffolk and West Dorset. 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 3
2 Hardwicke Buckinghamshire
3 Lambeth London (South Districts)
4 Reading St Giles, Shinfield (East and West Side, Hartley Dammer), Sonning (Early), Berkshire
5 Mancetter Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
2 Mid Suffolk 002 Mid Suffolk
3 Mid Suffolk 006 Mid Suffolk
4 Forest of Dean 003 Forest of Dean
5 West Dorset 012 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Simonds

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Simonds

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Simonds is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Simonds is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Simonds falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Simonds 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 Simonds, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Simonds

The surname Simonds is of English origin, derived from the medieval personal name Simond, itself a Norman French form of the ancient Germanic name Sigmund. It is composed of the elements 'sige' meaning victory and 'mund' meaning protection. The name Sigmund was introduced to Britain by the Normans after the conquest of 1066.

The earliest recorded instances of the Simonds surname date back to the late 12th century, with mentions found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire and Somerset. In 1196, a Robert Simond is listed as holding lands in Berkshire. The name appears to have been particularly prevalent in the southern counties of England during the Middle Ages.

In the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, several individuals with the name Simond are recorded, though the surname had not yet fully developed at that time. These include a Simond who held lands in Warwickshire and a Simond who was a tenant in Hertfordshire.

The surname Simonds has seen various spellings throughout history, including Symonds, Symons, Simmons, and Simmonds. These variations often arose due to regional dialects and the inconsistencies of early record-keeping. The name has also been associated with several place names, such as Symondsbury in Dorset and Symondsborough in Somerset.

Notable individuals with the surname Simonds include:

1. Richard Simonds (1579-1644), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Andover in 1628. 2. Sir John Simonds (1601-1692), an English judge who served as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer from 1676 to 1692. 3. Samuel Simonds (1628-1689), one of the founders of Haverhill, Massachusetts, and a prominent figure in the early colonization of New England. 4. Sir John Simonds (1815-1904), a British judge and Lord Justice of Appeal, known for his contributions to the development of English contract law. 5. Jean Simonds (1912-2003), a Canadian painter and member of the Painters Eleven group, known for her abstract expressionist works.

The surname Simonds has a rich history, tracing its roots back to the Norman conquest of England and the ancient Germanic name Sigmund. Over the centuries, it has been borne by notable individuals in various fields, including law, politics, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Simonds families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Simonds 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. Middlesex leads with 104 Simonds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.38x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 104 1.38x
Berkshire 93 16.39x
Surrey 73 1.98x
Buckinghamshire 58 12.69x
Warwickshire 51 2.67x
Hampshire 44 2.84x
Northamptonshire 36 5.06x
Gloucestershire 33 2.23x
Norfolk 32 2.75x
Kent 29 1.12x
Oxfordshire 29 6.21x
Yorkshire 28 0.37x
Lincolnshire 24 1.99x
Essex 21 1.41x
Staffordshire 18 0.71x
Suffolk 15 1.63x
Monmouthshire 13 2.38x
Sussex 12 0.94x
Lancashire 8 0.09x
Leicestershire 8 0.95x
Cambridgeshire 6 1.25x
Hertfordshire 6 1.15x
Glamorgan 5 0.38x
Bedfordshire 4 1.02x
Wiltshire 4 0.60x
Huntingdonshire 3 2.00x
Somerset 3 0.25x
Channel Islands 2 0.89x
Cheshire 2 0.12x
Dorset 2 0.40x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.20x
Shropshire 2 0.31x
Denbighshire 1 0.35x
Devon 1 0.06x
Durham 1 0.04x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x
Northumberland 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Weedon in Buckinghamshire leads with 26 Simonds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2321.43x.

Place Total Index
Weedon 26 2321.43x
Reading St Giles 23 41.31x
Aylesbury 22 108.64x
St Pancras London 22 3.62x
Reading St Mary 17 37.40x
Atherstone 16 164.27x
Camberwell 15 3.11x
Eye Dunsden 14 622.22x
Hawkesbury 14 277.23x
Portsea 14 4.61x
Shoreditch London 13 3.97x
Wellingborough 13 36.36x
Hammersmith London 12 6.44x
West Swallowfield 12 446.10x
Hurst 11 148.05x
Lambeth 11 1.67x
Greenwich 10 8.31x
Islington London 10 1.36x
Mortlake 10 60.90x
Birmingham 9 1.42x
Epsom 9 50.14x
Leyton 9 35.02x
Aberystruth 8 16.61x
Barnby 8 1194.03x
Bristol Temple 8 81.97x
Gissing 8 677.97x
Great Yarmouth 8 8.31x
Keighley 8 10.02x
Kettering 8 27.82x
Wycombe 8 23.48x
Bidford 7 171.57x
Brighton 7 2.72x
Cheltenham 7 6.12x
Fishtoft 7 295.36x
Halstead 7 40.21x
Hound 7 66.54x
Lewisham 7 5.09x
St Bartholomew Hyde 7 188.68x
Walton On Hill 7 14.40x
Caversham 6 64.24x
Dallington 6 143.54x
Hackney London 6 1.42x
Long Melford 6 70.09x
Willenhall 6 12.55x
Aston 5 0.95x
Earley 5 52.91x
Gamlingay 5 100.20x
Little Harrowden 5 233.64x
Mitcham 5 21.48x
Newington 5 1.79x
Portsmouth 5 14.01x
Rowley Regis 5 7.03x
Southampton St Mary 5 5.13x
Southcoates 5 12.02x
St Bride London 5 113.90x
Tilehurst 5 43.63x
Wortley In Bramley 5 8.43x
Bramley 4 123.08x
Bray 4 24.00x
Burton Upon Trent 4 6.70x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.24x
Cuckfield 4 31.08x
Heckington 4 86.96x
Kensington London 4 0.95x
Merthyr Tydfil 4 3.16x
New Buckenham 4 277.78x
North Pickenham 4 625.00x
Paddington London 4 1.44x
Ratcliffe Culey 4 677.97x
Shrivenham 4 142.35x
Sonning 4 63.80x
St George Hanover 4 4.05x
West Dean 4 16.61x
Bermondsey 3 1.33x
Carisbrooke 3 13.95x
Hornsey 3 3.14x
Hythe St Leonard 3 32.93x
Nettleham 3 120.97x
Sculcoates 3 2.53x
Wokingham 3 23.17x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 48
William 43
George 28
Thomas 26
Henry 25
Charles 22
James 17
Alfred 12
Walter 10
Arthur 9
Edward 9
Frederick 8
Robert 7
Albert 6
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Samuel 6
Harry 4
Wm. 4
Ernest 3
Frank 3
Mark 3
Thos. 3
Abraham 2
Arther 2
Edmund 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Fredrick 2
H. 2
Phillip 2
Robt. 2
Benjamin 1
Charley 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Emlin 1
Erskine 1
Ethelbert 1
F. 1
Fredk. 1
Fredric 1
Jno. 1
King 1
Marshall 1
Martin 1
Mary 1
Mitchell 1
Otti 1
Wolf 1

FAQ

Simonds surname: questions and answers

How common was the Simonds surname in 1881?

In 1881, 774 people were recorded with the Simonds surname. That placed it at #4,784 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Simonds surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 628 in 2016. That gives Simonds a modern rank of #8,401.

What does the Simonds surname mean?

Derived from the given name Simon, meaning "to be heard" or "reputation."

What does the Simonds map show?

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