NameCensus.

UK surname

Simson

An old Scandinavian surname potentially deriving from the name Simon.

In the 1881 census there were 778 people recorded with the Simson surname, ranking it #4,768 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 527, ranked #9,622, down from #4,768 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Brighton and Hove, Carrick South and South Gloucestershire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Simson is 1,466 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 32.3%.

1881 census count

778

Ranked #4,768

Modern count

527

2016, ranked #9,622

Peak year

1851

1,466 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Simson had 778 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,768 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 527 in 2016, ranked #9,622.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,466 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Simson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Simson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Simson 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 1,466 #1,958
1861 historical 1,414 #2,018
1881 historical 778 #4,768
1891 historical 866 #4,738
1901 historical 655 #6,599
1911 historical 599 #6,848
1997 modern 475 #9,676
1998 modern 495 #9,678
1999 modern 509 #9,527
2000 modern 490 #9,772
2001 modern 462 #10,034
2002 modern 460 #10,248
2003 modern 446 #10,361
2004 modern 452 #10,270
2005 modern 434 #10,502
2006 modern 446 #10,301
2007 modern 447 #10,388
2008 modern 460 #10,250
2009 modern 489 #10,034
2010 modern 499 #10,078
2011 modern 498 #9,982
2012 modern 496 #9,921
2013 modern 524 #9,687
2014 modern 537 #9,565
2015 modern 534 #9,543
2016 modern 527 #9,622

Geography

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Where Simsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Edinburgh and Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Brighton and Hove, Carrick South, South Gloucestershire, West Dorset and Cupar East. 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 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Brighton and Hove 017 Brighton and Hove
2 Carrick South South Ayrshire
3 South Gloucestershire 008 South Gloucestershire
4 West Dorset 004 West Dorset
5 Cupar East Fife

Forenames

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First names often paired with Simson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Simson

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

Simson 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

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

Meaning and origin of Simson

The surname SIMSON has its origins in England, and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the personal name Simon, which itself is derived from the Hebrew name Shimon, meaning "he has heard". The patronymic suffix "-son" was commonly added to personal names during the Middle Ages to indicate "son of".

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SIMSON surname dates back to 1196 in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, where a William Simundesun is listed. Other early spellings included Simondson, Symondson, and Symunson. These variations were common as surnames were still in the process of becoming standardized.

The SIMSON surname has been found in various historical records throughout the centuries. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a William Simondesone is mentioned in Oxfordshire. The Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1297 list a Thomas Simondeson.

Some notable individuals with the SIMSON surname include Robert Simson (1687-1768), a Scottish mathematician and professor at the University of Glasgow, known for his work on the properties of conic sections. Another is Thomas Simson (1711-1765), a Scottish antiquary and professor of antiquities at the University of St. Andrews.

In the 16th century, a prominent family of the SIMSON surname lived in the village of Cawston in Norfolk, England. Thomas Simson (c. 1530-1584) was a wealthy landowner and benefactor of the local church. His son, Reverend Edmund Simson (1558-1636), was the rector of Terrington St. Clement in Norfolk.

Moving into the 17th century, we find Edward Simson (1590-1670), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Raveningham in Norfolk. He published several works on theology and religious controversies of his time.

Another notable figure was Martin Simson (1638-1706), a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the principal of the University of Glasgow. He played a significant role in the debates surrounding the Scottish Covenant and the religious turmoil of the late 17th century.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals throughout history who have borne the SIMSON surname, originating from the personal name Simon and reflecting the rich heritage and diversity of this English patronymic name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Simson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Simson 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 127 Simsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.67x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 127 1.67x
Roxburghshire 56 40.68x
Lancashire 47 0.52x
Midlothian 41 4.03x
Kent 35 1.35x
Lanarkshire 32 1.30x
Angus 29 4.12x
Lincolnshire 28 2.30x
Durham 26 1.15x
Essex 25 1.67x
Yorkshire 24 0.32x
Northamptonshire 21 2.94x
Surrey 21 0.57x
Fife 18 4.00x
Warwickshire 18 0.94x
Berwickshire 17 18.47x
Oxfordshire 15 3.20x
Staffordshire 15 0.58x
Dunbartonshire 13 6.37x
Ayrshire 11 1.93x
Cambridgeshire 11 2.29x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.98x
Banffshire 9 5.71x
Westmorland 9 5.39x
Leicestershire 8 0.95x
Argyllshire 7 3.31x
Cheshire 7 0.42x
Hampshire 7 0.45x
Pembrokeshire 7 2.90x
Wigtownshire 7 6.94x
Berkshire 6 1.05x
Herefordshire 6 1.93x
Norfolk 6 0.51x
Stirlingshire 6 2.14x
Kinross-shire 5 26.03x
Suffolk 5 0.54x
Sussex 5 0.39x
Aberdeenshire 3 0.43x
Channel Islands 3 1.33x
Devon 3 0.19x
Hertfordshire 3 0.57x
Northumberland 3 0.27x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.65x
Cumberland 2 0.31x
Glamorgan 2 0.15x
Inverness-shire 2 0.88x
Isle of Man 2 1.42x
Selkirkshire 2 2.91x
Shropshire 2 0.30x
Anglesey 1 0.74x
Caithness 1 0.96x
Cornwall 1 0.12x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.60x
East Lothian 1 0.99x
Monmouthshire 1 0.18x
Orkney 1 1.20x
Renfrewshire 1 0.17x
Ross-shire 1 0.48x
Worcestershire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 43 Simsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.03x.

Place Total Index
Bethnal Green London 43 13.03x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 30 7.32x
Dundee 22 8.37x
Melrose 14 117.65x
Bishopwearmouth 12 6.18x
Oxnam 12 674.16x
Chelsea London 11 4.80x
Camberwell 10 2.06x
Glasgow 10 2.29x
Dumbarton 9 31.67x
Haydock 9 57.92x
High Barton 9 927.84x
Islington London 9 1.22x
Kings Sutton 9 283.02x
Kingswinford 9 9.66x
Aston 8 1.52x
Jedburgh 8 59.30x
Kensington London 8 1.89x
Mile End Old Town 8 6.67x
Nenthorn 8 672.27x
Stamford All Sts 8 117.65x
Angle 7 588.24x
Barony 7 1.13x
Bedrule 7 1000.00x
Coventry St Michael 7 11.37x
Govan 7 1.15x
Hawick 7 22.72x
Monkwearmouth 7 32.35x
Moulton 7 176.32x
Nottingham St Mary 7 2.64x
St Pancras London 7 1.14x
Wrangle 7 231.02x
Chorlton On Medlock 6 4.19x
Cupar 6 30.67x
Drymen 6 159.57x
Ely Holy Trinity St Mary 6 28.59x
Leicester St Margaret 6 2.92x
Otford 6 165.75x
Pinchbeck 6 77.02x
St George In East 6 11.61x
Steeple Barton 6 252.10x
Whiston 6 85.35x
Bromley London 5 2.99x
Charlton Next Woolwich 5 18.49x
Hammersmith London 5 2.67x
Holbeck 5 10.02x
Holbrook 5 246.31x
Kirton 5 102.67x
Liff Benvie 5 4.68x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 5 26.33x
Markinch 5 32.74x
Orwell 5 94.34x
St George Bloomsbury 5 11.47x
Sutton In Macclesfield 5 28.72x
Wanstead 5 19.03x
Wigtown 5 86.81x
Wilton 5 33.11x
Windle 5 9.85x
Bexley 4 17.45x
Canterbury St Peter 4 136.99x
Carnwath 4 26.32x
Colchester St Mary At 4 75.19x
Edinburgh St Georges 4 18.93x
Hamilton 4 5.84x
Hedleyhope 4 102.30x
Hove 4 7.11x
Kirkoswald 4 86.21x
Marnoch 4 47.28x
Mile End New Town 4 38.54x
Rathven 4 13.51x
Row 4 15.14x
Westacre 4 370.37x
Witcham 4 400.00x
Alverstoke 3 5.32x
Barnes 3 19.16x
Clerkenwell London 3 1.67x
Leominster 3 23.26x
Livesey 3 18.95x
Northampton St Sepulchre 3 8.25x
St Peter Port 3 7.20x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Simson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Simson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 778 people were recorded with the Simson surname. That placed it at #4,768 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Simson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 527 in 2016. That gives Simson a modern rank of #9,622.

What does the Simson surname mean?

An old Scandinavian surname potentially deriving from the name Simon.

What does the Simson map show?

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