NameCensus.

UK surname

Simonsen

A patronymic surname meaning "son of Simon," derived from the personal name Simon, of Hebrew origin meaning "he has heard."

In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Simonsen surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 100, ranked #31,123, up from #32,765 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Redcar and Cleveland, Hammersmith and Fulham and Eastleigh.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Simonsen is 106 in 2012. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 1328.6%.

1881 census count

7

Ranked #32,765

Modern count

100

2016, ranked #31,123

Peak year

2012

106 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Simonsen had 7 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #32,765 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016, ranked #31,123.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 47 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Student Living and Professional Footholds.

Simonsen surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Simonsen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Simonsen 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 4 #32,658
1861 historical 9 #32,724
1881 historical 7 #32,765
1891 historical 15 #32,956
1901 historical 32 #30,501
1911 historical 47 #28,110
1997 modern 89 #28,490
1998 modern 93 #28,563
1999 modern 92 #28,833
2000 modern 86 #29,484
2001 modern 86 #29,281
2002 modern 91 #29,181
2003 modern 87 #29,615
2004 modern 88 #29,758
2005 modern 80 #30,842
2006 modern 85 #30,556
2007 modern 89 #30,383
2008 modern 93 #30,123
2009 modern 85 #31,717
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 100 #30,058
2012 modern 106 #29,187
2013 modern 97 #31,239
2014 modern 98 #31,370
2015 modern 100 #31,005
2016 modern 100 #31,123

Geography

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Where Simonsens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. 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, Hammersmith and Fulham, Eastleigh, East Hertfordshire and Fylde. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Redcar and Cleveland 006 Redcar and Cleveland
2 Hammersmith and Fulham 023 Hammersmith and Fulham
3 Eastleigh 005 Eastleigh
4 East Hertfordshire 017 East Hertfordshire
5 Fylde 001 Fylde

Forenames

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First names often paired with Simonsen

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Simonsen

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Simonsen, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Student Living and Professional Footholds

Nationally, the Simonsen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Student Living and Professional Footholds, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Simonsen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

The Group includes many students, some of whom reside in communal residences. Single-person households are the most prevalent and the modal age band is 25 to 44. There are few families with dependent children. A significant number of White residents were born in EU countries (although UK-born residents are more common than in the rest of the Group), and households reflect a diversity of ethnic groups. Residential turnover is exceptionally high and, communal properties aside, flats are the norm. Some properties, including those in the private rental sector, are over-crowded. Many residents are professionals and technicians educated to degree level, and the Group is particularly common near the campuses of established university towns and cities.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Simonsen 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

Simonsen is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Simonsen falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Simonsen 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 - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Simonsen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Simonsen

The surname Simonsen is of Danish and Norwegian origin, derived from the personal name Simon, which itself comes from the ancient Hebrew name Shim'on. This surname emerged in the Middle Ages and is a patronymic form, meaning "son of Simon."

The name Simon is first recorded in the Bible as the name of one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. In the 11th century, the name became popular in Denmark and Norway due to the influence of Christianity in those regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Simonsen dates back to the late 13th century in the Danish town of Ribe. A merchant named Niels Simonsen is mentioned in a tax record from 1289.

In the 14th century, a prominent Norwegian clergyman named Svein Simonsen served as the Bishop of Oslo from 1314 to 1332. He is remembered for his efforts in promoting education and building churches in Norway during his tenure.

During the Renaissance period, a Danish artist named Jens Simonsen (1530-1601) gained recognition for his intricate woodcarvings and altarpieces in several churches across Denmark.

In the 17th century, a Norwegian naval officer named Peder Simonsen (1620-1687) played a significant role in defending Norway's coastal waters against foreign invaders and pirates.

The surname Simonsen has also been associated with several notable literary figures. The Norwegian poet and playwright Johan Simonsen (1781-1857) was a prominent figure in the Romantic Movement and is particularly known for his patriotic poetry.

Another notable bearer of the surname was the Danish author and playwright Erik Simonsen (1894-1976), whose works often explored themes of social injustice and the plight of the working class.

While the surname Simonsen is most commonly found in Denmark and Norway, it has also spread to other parts of the world through emigration in more recent times.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Simonsen families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Simonsen 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 2 Simonsens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.48x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 2 2.48x
Midlothian 2 21.93x
Cornwall 1 12.97x
Middlesex 1 1.47x
Surrey 1 3.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chorlton On Medlock in Lancashire leads with 2 Simonsens recorded in 1881 and an index of 156.25x.

Place Total Index
Chorlton On Medlock 2 156.25x
Clerkenwell London 1 62.11x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 27.25x
Falmouth 1 370.37x
Lambeth 1 16.84x
Leith North 1 5000.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Anna 1
Kirstine 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Jurgen 1
Lionel 1
Sofohus 1

Top occupations

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 Simonsen households.

FAQ

Simonsen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Simonsen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Simonsen surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Simonsen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 100 in 2016. That gives Simonsen a modern rank of #31,123.

What does the Simonsen surname mean?

A patronymic surname meaning "son of Simon," derived from the personal name Simon, of Hebrew origin meaning "he has heard."

What does the Simonsen map show?

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