NameCensus.

UK surname

Simpkins

A diminutive of the given name Simkin, derived from Simon, meaning "to hear" or "to listen."

In the 1881 census there were 1,345 people recorded with the Simpkins surname, ranking it #3,048 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,831, ranked #3,461, down from #3,048 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes and Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Cotswold and Wiltshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Simpkins is 2,011 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.1%.

1881 census count

1,345

Ranked #3,048

Modern count

1,831

2016, ranked #3,461

Peak year

1999

2,011 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Simpkins had 1,345 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,048 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,831 in 2016, ranked #3,461.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,706 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Simpkins surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Simpkins surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Simpkins 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 641 #4,050
1861 historical 779 #3,531
1881 historical 1,345 #3,048
1891 historical 1,449 #3,026
1901 historical 1,694 #3,047
1911 historical 1,706 #2,875
1997 modern 1,957 #3,108
1998 modern 2,007 #3,149
1999 modern 2,011 #3,168
2000 modern 1,985 #3,184
2001 modern 1,922 #3,211
2002 modern 1,969 #3,212
2003 modern 1,904 #3,236
2004 modern 1,909 #3,225
2005 modern 1,868 #3,260
2006 modern 1,878 #3,262
2007 modern 1,878 #3,286
2008 modern 1,855 #3,339
2009 modern 1,885 #3,367
2010 modern 1,934 #3,367
2011 modern 1,914 #3,355
2012 modern 1,876 #3,360
2013 modern 1,910 #3,365
2014 modern 1,882 #3,425
2015 modern 1,835 #3,476
2016 modern 1,831 #3,461

Geography

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Where Simpkins' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Swindon, Lyddington, London parishes, Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington and Walcott, Charlcome. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swindon, Cotswold, Wiltshire and Isle of Wight. 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 Swindon, Lyddington Wiltshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Calne, Bowood, Blackland, Calstone Withington Wiltshire
5 Walcott, Charlcome Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 005 Swindon
2 Cotswold 006 Cotswold
3 Wiltshire 018 Wiltshire
4 Swindon 009 Swindon
5 Isle of Wight 018 Isle of Wight

Forenames

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First names often paired with Simpkins

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Simpkins

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

Simpkins is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Simpkins

The surname Simpkins originated in England, with records dating back to the 12th century. It is a diminutive form of the name Simon, derived from the Old French name 'Simone'. The name was initially found in various regions of England, including Yorkshire, Norfolk, and Essex.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Simpkins can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Northamptonshire in 1195, where it is listed as 'Simekinus'. The Rotuli Hundredorum, a census-like record from the late 13th century, also lists several variations of the name, such as 'Symonkin' and 'Simkyn'.

The Simpkins surname is believed to have originated from a nickname for a person with a diminutive or small stature, as 'kin' was a common suffix used to denote a small or endearing version of a name. This practice was common during the Middle Ages, when surnames were often derived from physical characteristics, occupations, or places of origin.

In the 14th century, the Simpkins name appeared in various records, including the Poll Tax of Yorkshire in 1379, which lists 'Johannes Symkynson'. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327 also mention 'Ricardus Symkyn'.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Simpkins was William Simpkins, born in 1510 in Oxfordshire, England. Another notable figure was John Simpkins, who was born in 1647 in Hertfordshire and served as a member of Parliament for Hertford in the late 17th century.

Other historical figures with the Simpkins surname include Robert Simpkins (1609-1676), a prominent merchant and landowner in Virginia, and Edward Simpkins (1691-1758), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the 18th century.

The surname Simpkins has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Simpkin's Green in Essex and Simpkin's Farm in Kent, suggesting that some individuals with this name may have derived their surnames from the places they lived or worked.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Simpkins families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Simpkins 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. Wiltshire leads with 324 Simpkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.80x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 324 27.80x
Middlesex 239 1.81x
Surrey 77 1.20x
Hertfordshire 59 6.49x
Somerset 54 2.55x
Staffordshire 52 1.17x
Bedfordshire 47 6.89x
Lancashire 47 0.30x
Yorkshire 43 0.33x
Hampshire 37 1.37x
Oxfordshire 33 4.05x
Worcestershire 31 1.80x
Gloucestershire 30 1.16x
Essex 26 1.00x
Derbyshire 25 1.21x
Nottinghamshire 23 1.29x
Cambridgeshire 21 2.52x
Monmouthshire 19 1.99x
Kent 17 0.38x
Warwickshire 15 0.45x
Berkshire 14 1.42x
Leicestershire 14 0.96x
Northamptonshire 13 1.05x
Glamorgan 11 0.48x
Lanarkshire 10 0.23x
Cheshire 9 0.31x
Lincolnshire 9 0.43x
Sussex 9 0.41x
Westmorland 9 3.11x
Durham 8 0.20x
Suffolk 7 0.44x
Devon 5 0.18x
Midlothian 5 0.28x
Royal Navy 3 1.91x
Herefordshire 2 0.37x
Channel Islands 1 0.26x
Dorset 1 0.12x
Norfolk 1 0.05x
Rutland 1 1.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Calne in Wiltshire leads with 31 Simpkins' recorded in 1881 and an index of 129.17x.

Place Total Index
Calne 31 129.17x
Walcot 31 27.44x
Swindon 26 28.76x
Purton 23 221.79x
Bremhill 22 419.05x
Islington London 21 1.64x
Luton 19 16.08x
Lyneham 19 416.67x
Nettleton 19 1038.25x
Shoreditch London 19 3.33x
Clapham 18 10.93x
St Pancras London 17 1.60x
Linton 16 294.66x
St Albans St Peter 16 52.20x
Mile End Old Town 15 7.21x
Sandridge 14 366.49x
St Andrewthe Less 14 14.68x
West Bromwich 14 5.50x
Camberwell 13 1.54x
Hendon 13 27.41x
St Marylebone London 13 1.85x
Andover 12 47.02x
Bow London 12 7.15x
Christian Malford 12 338.98x
Liddiard Millicent 12 300.00x
Rodbourne Cheney 12 133.33x
St George Hanover 12 6.98x
West Ham 12 2.09x
Box 11 110.66x
Croydon 11 3.09x
Golborne 11 53.97x
Lea Cleverton 11 528.85x
Mynyddyslwyn 11 29.27x
Reading St Mary 10 12.62x
Wroughton 10 99.01x
Baglan Lower 9 376.57x
Bethnal Green London 9 1.57x
Chipping Norton 9 47.82x
Cliffe Pypard 9 257.14x
Fladbury 9 439.02x
Hackney London 9 1.22x
Lambeth 9 0.78x
Leyton Low 9 17.02x
Offley 9 152.28x
Radford 9 9.97x
Bradford On Avon 8 21.44x
Brighton 8 1.78x
Hornton 8 353.98x
Houghton Conquest 8 285.71x
Kensington London 8 1.09x
Leicester St Margaret 8 2.25x
Marlborough St Mary Virgin 8 97.44x
St Bartholomew Hyde 8 123.84x
Staines 8 38.33x
Stanton St Bernard 8 526.32x
Stratton St Margaret 8 44.74x
Tetbury 8 54.61x
Worcester St Clement 8 73.13x
Alton Priors 7 786.52x
Barony 7 0.65x
Ealing 7 5.94x
Edmonton 7 6.59x
Eldersfield 7 259.26x
Hampstead London 7 3.41x
Henley On Thames 7 41.99x
Kirkland 7 113.27x
Lenton 7 16.73x
Liddiard Tregooze 7 234.90x
St Botolph Aldgate 7 38.91x
Upholland 7 34.93x
Audley Talk O Th Hill 6 74.91x
Barton In Clay 6 125.26x
Bloxham 6 75.19x
Kington St Michael 6 288.46x
North Mimms 6 104.90x
Pewsham 6 348.84x
Runcorn 6 8.95x
Wednesfield 6 9.16x
Westbury On Trym 6 6.85x
Westminster St 6 12.35x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 76
John 65
Thomas 48
George 47
James 47
Henry 38
Charles 28
Joseph 24
Alfred 19
Albert 14
Arthur 13
Walter 13
Samuel 12
Ernest 10
Frederick 10
Robert 10
Edward 9
Francis 8
Harry 8
Richard 8
David 7
Frank 6
Eli 5
Herbert 5
Job 5
Fred 4
Stephen 4
Thos. 4
Fred. 3
Jacob 3
Jesse 3
Peter 3
Tom 3
Abraham 2
Allan 2
Clarance 2
Daniel 2
Ely 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Horace 2
Hy. 2
Mark 2
Sidney 2
Willm. 2
Bartlet 1
Broom 1
C. 1
Enos 1
Erenest 1

FAQ

Simpkins surname: questions and answers

How common was the Simpkins surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,345 people were recorded with the Simpkins surname. That placed it at #3,048 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Simpkins surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,831 in 2016. That gives Simpkins a modern rank of #3,461.

What does the Simpkins surname mean?

A diminutive of the given name Simkin, derived from Simon, meaning "to hear" or "to listen."

What does the Simpkins map show?

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