NameCensus.

UK surname

Simpkin

A diminutive form of the given name Simon, meaning "son of Simon".

In the 1881 census there were 1,126 people recorded with the Simpkin surname, ranking it #3,540 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,445, ranked #4,249, down from #3,540 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Winwick, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Lancashire, South Derbyshire and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Simpkin is 1,551 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 28.3%.

1881 census count

1,126

Ranked #3,540

Modern count

1,445

2016, ranked #4,249

Peak year

1911

1,551 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Simpkin had 1,126 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,540 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,445 in 2016, ranked #4,249.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,551 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Simpkin surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Simpkin surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Simpkin 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 720 #3,636
1861 historical 651 #4,122
1881 historical 1,126 #3,540
1891 historical 1,191 #3,601
1901 historical 1,480 #3,456
1911 historical 1,551 #3,125
1997 modern 1,368 #4,212
1998 modern 1,477 #4,110
1999 modern 1,501 #4,085
2000 modern 1,469 #4,134
2001 modern 1,434 #4,135
2002 modern 1,494 #4,089
2003 modern 1,448 #4,112
2004 modern 1,448 #4,114
2005 modern 1,444 #4,085
2006 modern 1,411 #4,168
2007 modern 1,415 #4,197
2008 modern 1,434 #4,176
2009 modern 1,459 #4,204
2010 modern 1,482 #4,230
2011 modern 1,493 #4,174
2012 modern 1,467 #4,159
2013 modern 1,499 #4,163
2014 modern 1,500 #4,177
2015 modern 1,466 #4,220
2016 modern 1,445 #4,249

Geography

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Where Simpkins are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Winwick, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Loughborough and Braybrook. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Lancashire, South Derbyshire, Doncaster, East Riding of Yorkshire and Derby. 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 Winwick Lancashire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Loughborough Leicestershire
5 Braybrook Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Lancashire 015 West Lancashire
2 South Derbyshire 011 South Derbyshire
3 Doncaster 009 Doncaster
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 001 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 Derby 013 Derby

Forenames

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First names often paired with Simpkin

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Simpkin

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Simpkin is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Simpkin is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Simpkin falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Simpkin

The surname Simpkin is of English origin, derived from the medieval given name Simkin, which was a diminutive form of Simon. This name can be traced back to the 12th century and was particularly prevalent in the counties of Hertfordshire and Essex.

The name Simpkin is believed to have its roots in the Old English word "sibb," which means "kinsman" or "relative." This suggests that the name may have initially been used to denote a familial relationship or a close connection to someone named Simon.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Simpkin can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a man named Willelmus Symekyn is mentioned in the records for Huntingdonshire.

In the 14th century, the name Simpkin appeared in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a person named Johannes Symkyn was recorded as a resident in 1348.

During the Tudor period, a notable figure named William Simpkin (c. 1490-1554) was a member of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers in London and served as the company's Master in 1548.

Another individual of note was Thomas Simpkin (1667-1719), an English clergyman and author who wrote several theological works, including "The Causes of the Decay of Christian Piety" published in 1701.

In the 18th century, John Simpkin (1745-1817) was a bookseller and publisher based in Marshalsea, London. He was known for publishing works by notable authors such as Mary Wollstonecraft and William Godwin.

The name Simpkin has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Simpkin's Farm in Buckinghamshire and Simpkin's Green in Hertfordshire, which may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time.

Throughout history, the surname Simpkin has been recorded with various spellings, including Symkyn, Simkin, Simpkins, and Simkins, reflecting the regional variations and changes in pronunciation over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Simpkin families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Simpkin 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 243 Simpkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.87x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 243 1.87x
Yorkshire 131 1.21x
Leicestershire 129 10.61x
Cambridgeshire 107 15.41x
Middlesex 94 0.86x
Nottinghamshire 78 5.28x
Suffolk 66 4.94x
Staffordshire 59 1.59x
Surrey 48 0.90x
Derbyshire 37 2.16x
Northamptonshire 36 3.49x
Warwickshire 28 1.01x
Durham 13 0.40x
Cheshire 8 0.33x
Somerset 8 0.45x
Lincolnshire 7 0.40x
Midlothian 6 0.41x
Norfolk 6 0.36x
Essex 5 0.23x
Kent 5 0.13x
Huntingdonshire 4 1.84x
Bedfordshire 1 0.18x
Berkshire 1 0.12x
Hertfordshire 1 0.13x
Lanarkshire 1 0.03x
Northumberland 1 0.06x
Oxfordshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Ashton In Makerfield in Lancashire leads with 32 Simpkins recorded in 1881 and an index of 86.37x.

Place Total Index
Ashton In Makerfield 32 86.37x
Braybrooke 29 2148.15x
Parr 27 58.00x
Clerkenwell London 26 10.05x
Nottingham St Mary 26 6.80x
Wicken 24 754.72x
Loughborough 23 41.70x
Wigan 20 11.00x
Stetchworth 18 789.47x
Kirtling 17 551.95x
Leicester St Margaret 17 5.73x
Birmingham 15 1.63x
Fairburn 14 732.98x
Kedington 14 396.60x
Blackburn 13 3.76x
Bury 13 8.75x
Limehouse London 13 10.80x
Stoke Upon Trent 13 3.31x
Burton Upon Trent 12 13.86x
Rillington 12 363.64x
Audley Talk O Th Hill 11 164.92x
Camberwell 11 1.57x
Great Bowden 11 99.46x
Radford 11 14.65x
Salford 11 2.87x
Shirland 11 85.67x
Stradishall 11 769.23x
Bilborough 10 1333.33x
Ferry Fryston 10 236.41x
Kensington London 10 1.64x
Lambeth 10 1.05x
Lenton 10 28.73x
Manchester 10 1.71x
Pemberton 10 19.28x
Sheffield 10 2.89x
Elton 9 20.02x
St Pancras London 9 1.02x
Woodbridge 9 52.72x
Abram 8 80.16x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 8 7.90x
Bridlington 8 32.15x
Gateshead 8 3.28x
Hathern 8 162.60x
Hoby 8 683.76x
Scagglethorpe 8 833.33x
Upholland 8 47.99x
Wood Ditton 8 137.69x
Battersea 7 1.74x
Clapham 7 5.11x
Eccleston In Prescot 7 10.72x
Exning 7 103.86x
Grantchester 7 162.04x
Great Oxendon 7 804.60x
Hornsey 7 5.05x
Mile End Old Town 7 4.04x
Morley 7 673.08x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 3.17x
Windle 7 9.56x
Barrow 6 175.44x
Barrow Upon Soar 6 59.76x
Bradford 6 9.85x
Gorton 6 4.91x
Haisthorpe 6 1304.35x
Louth 6 14.93x
Ludworth 6 74.26x
Oldham 6 1.43x
West Bridgford 6 408.16x
Wigston Magna 6 37.22x
Withernsea 6 476.19x
Aston 5 0.66x
Edinburgh Greenside 5 25.76x
Great Wilbraham 5 243.90x
Nafferton 5 107.99x
Normanton On Soar 5 413.22x
Portishead 5 38.11x
Seals 5 116.82x
Somerby 5 250.00x
St Anne Soho London 5 7.99x
West Lynn 5 231.48x
Woodhouse 5 103.52x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 71
Thomas 47
William 46
George 37
Joseph 26
Henry 25
James 24
Robert 18
Charles 16
Arthur 13
Samuel 13
Frederick 12
Albert 9
Edward 8
Alfred 7
Fred 7
Frank 6
Herbert 6
Isaac 5
Walter 5
Chas. 4
Harry 4
Jonathan 4
Thos. 4
C. 3
Daniel 3
Earnest 3
Edwin 3
Elijah 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Peter 3
Tom 3
Aaron 2
Benjamin 2
E. 2
Eli 2
Frederic 2
H. 2
Harold 2
Martin 2
Moses 2
Octavus 2
Richard 2
Richd. 2
Roger 2
Thos 2
W. 2
Wm. 2
F. 1

FAQ

Simpkin surname: questions and answers

How common was the Simpkin surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,126 people were recorded with the Simpkin surname. That placed it at #3,540 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Simpkin surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,445 in 2016. That gives Simpkin a modern rank of #4,249.

What does the Simpkin surname mean?

A diminutive form of the given name Simon, meaning "son of Simon".

What does the Simpkin map show?

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