NameCensus.

UK surname

Sym

In the 1881 census there were 26 people recorded with the Sym surname, ranking it #29,911 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 124, ranked #26,975, up from #29,911 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, Dalziel and Lanark. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Maybole, Northumberland and Greater Lochgilphead.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sym is 267 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 376.9%.

1881 census count

26

Ranked #29,911

Modern count

124

2016, ranked #26,975

Peak year

1851

267 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sym had 26 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,911 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016, ranked #26,975.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 267 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Sym surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sym surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sym 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 267 #8,342
1881 historical 26 #29,911
1891 historical 117 #21,658
1901 historical 158 #17,507
1997 modern 123 #23,792
1998 modern 118 #25,041
1999 modern 115 #25,620
2000 modern 117 #25,324
2001 modern 114 #25,344
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 124 #24,378
2004 modern 116 #25,580
2005 modern 118 #25,301
2006 modern 113 #26,267
2007 modern 118 #25,913
2008 modern 117 #26,351
2009 modern 117 #26,927
2010 modern 113 #28,162
2011 modern 120 #26,930
2012 modern 111 #28,332
2013 modern 116 #27,992
2014 modern 123 #27,206
2015 modern 119 #27,684
2016 modern 124 #26,975

Geography

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Where Syms are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, Dalziel, Lanark, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Maybole, Northumberland, Greater Lochgilphead and Belmont. 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 Hamilton Lanark
2 Dalziel Lanark
3 Lanark Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Maybole South Ayrshire
2 Northumberland 034 Northumberland
3 Greater Lochgilphead Argyll and Bute
4 Northumberland 033 Northumberland
5 Belmont South Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sym

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sym

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Sym surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Sym household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Sym is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Sym is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

1881 census detail

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Sym families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sym 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. Lanarkshire leads with 58 Syms recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.79x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 58 11.79x
Ayrshire 35 30.73x
Midlothian 18 8.83x
Kent 9 1.73x
Buteshire 7 75.92x
Lancashire 7 0.39x
Middlesex 6 0.39x
Renfrewshire 4 3.39x
Dunbartonshire 3 7.34x
East Lothian 2 9.92x
Stirlingshire 2 3.56x
Berkshire 1 0.88x
Caithness 1 4.80x
Clackmannanshire 1 7.96x
Gloucestershire 1 0.34x
Surrey 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kilmaurs in Ayrshire leads with 25 Syms recorded in 1881 and an index of 1288.66x.

Place Total Index
Kilmaurs 25 1288.66x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 18 21.95x
Govan 18 14.79x
Dalziel 11 207.94x
Barony 10 8.03x
Deptford St Nicholas 9 218.45x
Kilmory 7 522.39x
Dalserf 6 122.20x
Kilmarnock 5 36.90x
Poplar London 5 17.41x
Farington 4 380.95x
Stonehouse 4 239.52x
Beswick 3 64.94x
Bothwell 3 22.47x
Hamilton 3 21.85x
New Kilpatrick 3 77.12x
West Greenock 3 14.17x
Ayr 2 37.17x
Carnwath 2 65.79x
Aberlady 1 192.31x
Alloa 1 16.42x
Blantyre 1 19.53x
Dunbar 1 35.34x
Dundonald 1 23.81x
Ealing 1 7.35x
Lambeth 1 0.75x
Latheron 1 28.65x
Maybole 1 28.82x
Paisley Middle Church 1 14.56x
Polmont 1 48.31x
Reading St Giles 1 8.92x
Riccarton 1 58.14x
Slamannan 1 32.57x
Weston Birt 1 1666.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 2
Sarah 2
Ann 1
Anna 1
Betsy 1
Elizabeth 1
Marion 1
Minnie 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Benjamin 3
Alexander 2
Andrew 2
Frederick 2
John 2
Albert 1
William 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 Sym households.

FAQ

Sym surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sym surname in 1881?

In 1881, 26 people were recorded with the Sym surname. That placed it at #29,911 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sym surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 124 in 2016. That gives Sym a modern rank of #26,975.

What does the Sym map show?

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