NameCensus.

UK surname

Symes

An English surname derived from a Germanic personal name meaning one from Sion.

In the 1881 census there were 2,189 people recorded with the Symes surname, ranking it #2,028 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,538, ranked #2,605, down from #2,028 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Melcombe Regis. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include West Dorset and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Symes is 3,084 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 15.9%.

1881 census count

2,189

Ranked #2,028

Modern count

2,538

2016, ranked #2,605

Peak year

1911

3,084 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Symes had 2,189 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,028 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,538 in 2016, ranked #2,605.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,084 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Symes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Symes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Symes 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 1,473 #1,944
1861 historical 1,324 #2,166
1881 historical 2,189 #2,028
1891 historical 2,142 #2,174
1901 historical 2,880 #1,942
1911 historical 3,084 #1,690
1997 modern 2,858 #2,259
1998 modern 2,923 #2,305
1999 modern 2,938 #2,305
2000 modern 2,925 #2,301
2001 modern 2,844 #2,307
2002 modern 2,862 #2,346
2003 modern 2,791 #2,351
2004 modern 2,796 #2,352
2005 modern 2,683 #2,402
2006 modern 2,657 #2,422
2007 modern 2,653 #2,443
2008 modern 2,632 #2,468
2009 modern 2,673 #2,486
2010 modern 2,694 #2,530
2011 modern 2,665 #2,521
2012 modern 2,587 #2,546
2013 modern 2,628 #2,558
2014 modern 2,641 #2,552
2015 modern 2,581 #2,577
2016 modern 2,538 #2,605

Geography

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Where Symes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Melcombe Regis and Loders, Allington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to West Dorset and South Somerset. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Melcombe Regis Dorset
5 Loders, Allington Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 West Dorset 007 West Dorset
2 West Dorset 008 West Dorset
3 South Somerset 021 South Somerset
4 West Dorset 006 West Dorset
5 West Dorset 009 West Dorset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Symes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Symes

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Symes 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

Symes is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Symes falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Symes

The surname SYMES is an English name that originated in the late 13th century. It is derived from the given name Simon, which comes from the Hebrew name Shim'on, meaning "he has heard" or "he has listened". The surname was likely first adopted as a patronymic, meaning "son of Simon".

SYMES was initially found in various areas of England, particularly in the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire. Early records show variations in the spelling, including Symes, Simes, Sims, and Symmes. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1327, which mentions a John Symes.

The name appears in several historical documents, such as the Pipe Rolls of Somerset from 1273, which lists a Richard Symes. Additionally, the Feet of Fines for Essex from 1437 mentions a Thomas Symes. These records suggest that the SYMES family had a presence across various regions of England during the Middle Ages.

Notable individuals with the surname SYMES include Sir John Symes (c. 1450-1505), a Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Henry VII. Another prominent figure was Richard Symes (1540-1609), an English clergyman who served as the Dean of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

In the 17th century, a SYMES family settled in Connecticut, United States. One member, Reverend Zechariah Symes (1640-1708), was a Puritan minister and co-founder of the town of Bradford, Massachusetts. His descendants continued to use the surname in North America.

Other notable figures include Benjamin Symes (1698-1786), an English Quaker and philanthropist, and Michael Symes (1753-1809), a British army officer and diplomat who served as an envoy to the Kingdom of Ava (now Myanmar).

The SYMES name has persisted throughout history, with individuals bearing this surname making contributions in various fields, including politics, religion, and exploration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Symes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Symes 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. Dorset leads with 659 Symes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 46.64x.

County Total Index
Dorset 659 46.64x
Somerset 330 9.52x
Middlesex 279 1.30x
Devon 184 4.11x
Surrey 126 1.20x
Hampshire 104 2.36x
Gloucestershire 95 2.25x
Kent 46 0.63x
Warwickshire 33 0.61x
Yorkshire 33 0.15x
Lancashire 31 0.12x
Sussex 24 0.66x
Essex 23 0.54x
Glamorgan 20 0.53x
Lanarkshire 18 0.26x
Wiltshire 18 0.95x
Cornwall 17 0.70x
Channel Islands 16 2.51x
Hertfordshire 16 1.08x
Oxfordshire 16 1.20x
Staffordshire 16 0.22x
Berkshire 15 0.93x
Cheshire 11 0.23x
Lincolnshire 11 0.32x
Flintshire 7 1.21x
Royal Navy 7 2.73x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.88x
Suffolk 6 0.23x
Cumberland 5 0.27x
Norfolk 5 0.15x
Northumberland 5 0.16x
Monmouthshire 4 0.26x
Worcestershire 4 0.14x
Brecknockshire 3 0.70x
Herefordshire 3 0.34x
Durham 2 0.03x
Fife 2 0.16x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.08x
Derbyshire 1 0.03x
Isle of Man 1 0.25x
Leicestershire 1 0.04x
Midlothian 1 0.03x
Northamptonshire 1 0.05x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bridport in Dorset leads with 49 Symes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 168.44x.

Place Total Index
Bridport 49 168.44x
Melcombe Regis 42 71.72x
St Pancras London 36 2.08x
Islington London 33 1.58x
Allington 29 230.16x
Bridgewater 29 30.82x
Weymouth 29 108.33x
Misterton 28 569.11x
Southampton St Mary 27 9.73x
Swyre 27 1719.75x
Yeovil 27 38.34x
Abbotsbury 26 360.61x
Crediton 26 61.23x
Battersea 24 3.03x
Kensington London 24 2.01x
Broad Clist 23 148.77x
Burton Bradstock 22 315.64x
Stoke Abbott 22 541.87x
Walcot 22 11.92x
Fordington 21 68.99x
St George Hanover 20 7.12x
Chelsea London 19 2.93x
Chard 18 42.88x
Loders 18 256.41x
Beaminster 17 108.28x
Camberwell 17 1.24x
Fulham London 17 5.44x
Netherbury 17 145.55x
Thornbury 17 58.88x
Lambeth 16 0.85x
Charminster 15 133.45x
Corscombe 15 311.85x
Hammersmith London 15 2.83x
Shipton George 15 652.17x
Tolpuddle 15 666.67x
Deptford St Paul 14 2.47x
Walsall Foreign 14 3.73x
Bristol St Paul In 13 11.56x
Burstock 13 928.57x
Lewisham 13 3.32x
Stoke St Gregory 13 123.57x
Barnstaple 12 17.06x
Rotherhithe 12 4.51x
Winterborne St Martin 12 378.55x
Wyke Regis 12 59.20x
Aston 11 0.74x
Buckland St Mary 11 245.54x
Clerkenwell London 11 2.16x
Dorchester Holy Trinity 11 96.15x
Govan 11 0.64x
St Thomas Winchester 11 35.30x
Sydling St Nicholas 11 266.99x
Bedminster 10 3.07x
Bristol St James St Paul 10 7.10x
Clifton 10 4.68x
Combe St Nicholas 10 119.33x
Exminster 10 62.03x
Hampstead London 10 2.98x
Paddington London 10 1.26x
Wincanton 10 56.09x
Bristol St James In 9 14.49x
Buckland Newton 9 142.41x
Chideock 9 181.09x
East Coker 9 118.73x
Hackney London 9 0.75x
Moreton 9 394.74x
Rugby 9 12.25x
Silverton 9 96.46x
South Perrott 9 403.59x
South Stoneham 9 9.40x
St Keyne 9 750.00x
Westbury On Trym 9 6.29x
Whitechapel London 9 4.24x
Winterborne Kingston 9 235.60x
Bradpole 8 69.08x
Brampford Speke 8 224.09x
Broadwinsor 8 86.39x
Kinson 8 28.98x
Lympston 8 100.00x
West Ham 8 0.85x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 132
Elizabeth 96
Sarah 53
Alice 44
Emily 44
Ann 42
Eliza 41
Jane 37
Annie 34
Ellen 29
Emma 29
Charlotte 20
Susan 19
Edith 18
Louisa 18
Harriet 17
Fanny 16
Florence 16
Ada 15
Martha 15
Kate 13
Anne 12
Bessie 12
Ethel 12
Maria 11
Agnes 10
Amelia 10
Caroline 10
Frances 9
Julia 9
Lucy 9
Margaret 8
Rose 8
Hannah 7
Matilda 7
Mabel 6
Sophia 6
Amy 5
Clara 5
Elizth. 5
Laura 5
Rebecca 5
Beatrice 4
Catherine 4
Constance 4
Esther 4
Gertrude 4
Helen 4
Arabella 3
Henrietta 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 131
John 96
George 77
James 66
Charles 57
Henry 50
Thomas 42
Joseph 40
Frederick 36
Samuel 31
Richard 27
Albert 26
Robert 25
Alfred 23
Walter 21
Edward 19
Harry 16
Herbert 14
Edwin 12
Arthur 11
Francis 9
Frank 9
Eli 8
Isaac 8
Fredk. 7
Tom 7
David 6
Benjamin 5
Daniel 5
Ernest 5
Sidney 5
W. 5
Reginald 4
Sydney 4
Bernard 3
Frances 3
Fredrick 3
Peter 3
Stephen 3
Thos. 3
Willm. 3
Wm. 3
Charlie 2
Chas. 2
Frederic 2
Hector 2
J. 2
Josh. 2
Oliver 2
Simeon 2

FAQ

Symes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Symes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,189 people were recorded with the Symes surname. That placed it at #2,028 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Symes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,538 in 2016. That gives Symes a modern rank of #2,605.

What does the Symes surname mean?

An English surname derived from a Germanic personal name meaning one from Sion.

What does the Symes map show?

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