NameCensus.

UK surname

Symonds

Derived from the given name Simon, meaning "one who hears" or "to be heard."

In the 1881 census there were 3,598 people recorded with the Symonds surname, ranking it #1,255 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4,559, ranked #1,491, down from #1,255 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and St Mary Islington. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Herefordshire, Forest of Dean and Great Yarmouth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Symonds is 4,913 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.7%.

1881 census count

3,598

Ranked #1,255

Modern count

4,559

2016, ranked #1,491

Peak year

1999

4,913 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Symonds had 3,598 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,255 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 4,559 in 2016, ranked #1,491.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,564 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Symonds surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Symonds surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Symonds 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 2,437 #1,222
1861 historical 2,347 #1,251
1881 historical 3,598 #1,255
1891 historical 3,901 #1,230
1901 historical 4,419 #1,288
1911 historical 4,564 #1,128
1997 modern 4,702 #1,388
1998 modern 4,865 #1,397
1999 modern 4,913 #1,392
2000 modern 4,886 #1,396
2001 modern 4,723 #1,407
2002 modern 4,865 #1,397
2003 modern 4,781 #1,388
2004 modern 4,743 #1,394
2005 modern 4,584 #1,426
2006 modern 4,580 #1,431
2007 modern 4,628 #1,423
2008 modern 4,621 #1,437
2009 modern 4,676 #1,459
2010 modern 4,744 #1,471
2011 modern 4,672 #1,471
2012 modern 4,521 #1,493
2013 modern 4,611 #1,493
2014 modern 4,654 #1,486
2015 modern 4,583 #1,491
2016 modern 4,559 #1,491

Geography

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Where Symonds' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, St Mary Islington and Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Herefordshire, Forest of Dean and Great Yarmouth. 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 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)
5 Hellesdon, St Mary in the Marsh, St Clement, St Martin at Oak, St Mary at Coslany, St Michael at Cos Norfolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Herefordshire 010 Herefordshire, County of
2 Forest of Dean 007 Forest of Dean
3 Great Yarmouth 003 Great Yarmouth
4 Forest of Dean 004 Forest of Dean
5 Herefordshire 005 Herefordshire, County of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Symonds

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Symonds

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

Symonds is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Symonds

The surname Symonds is of English origin, derived from the medieval personal name Simond, which is an Old French variant of the name Simon. The name Simon itself is derived from the Hebrew name Shim'on, meaning "he has heard."

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Symonds date back to the late 12th century in various regions of England, including Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, and Somerset. It is believed that the name was initially used as a patronymic, referring to the son of someone named Simon or Simond.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname was Simon Symonds, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire in 1195. The Pipe Rolls were a series of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, providing valuable insights into the names and locations of individuals during the medieval period.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Symundes, Symondes, and Simondes, reflecting the regional variations in pronunciation and spelling at the time. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, a census-like survey of landholders in England, recorded several individuals with the surname, including John Symond in Oxfordshire and Walter Symound in Huntingdonshire.

One notable bearer of the surname was Sir Ralph Symonds (1435-1512), who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire during the reigns of Edward IV and Henry VII. He was also appointed as a Justice of the Peace and held significant landholdings in the county.

Another prominent figure was Richard Symonds (1617-1692), an English antiquarian and writer who is best known for his detailed accounts of the English Civil War. His diaries and manuscripts provide invaluable insights into the events and personalities of the time.

In the literary world, John Addington Symonds (1840-1893) was a renowned English poet, literary critic, and biographer. He is particularly known for his works on the Italian Renaissance, including his influential biography of Michelangelo.

The Symonds family also had connections to the British colonies in North America. Thomas Symonds (1609-1678) was one of the early settlers in Ipswich, Massachusetts, arriving in 1637. He later served as a deputy to the General Court of Massachusetts Bay Colony.

Overall, the surname Symonds has a rich history spanning centuries, with its origins rooted in the medieval English period. It has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including politicians, writers, and colonists, leaving an indelible mark on the historical records of England and beyond.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Symonds families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Symonds 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. Norfolk leads with 475 Symonds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.78x.

County Total Index
Norfolk 475 8.78x
Middlesex 459 1.30x
Suffolk 253 5.90x
Herefordshire 251 17.39x
Surrey 251 1.46x
Cambridgeshire 212 9.51x
Dorset 177 7.66x
Gloucestershire 151 2.19x
Devon 137 1.87x
Essex 110 1.58x
Cornwall 86 2.16x
Hampshire 83 1.15x
Warwickshire 75 0.84x
Worcestershire 74 1.61x
Kent 62 0.52x
Lancashire 60 0.14x
Oxfordshire 59 2.71x
Lincolnshire 54 0.96x
Staffordshire 54 0.45x
Monmouthshire 51 2.00x
Somerset 50 0.88x
Sussex 45 0.76x
Glamorgan 43 0.70x
Durham 37 0.35x
Yorkshire 36 0.10x
Cheshire 35 0.45x
Berkshire 31 1.17x
Shropshire 25 0.82x
Derbyshire 22 0.40x
Buckinghamshire 18 0.85x
Bedfordshire 15 0.82x
Rutland 14 5.42x
Northamptonshire 11 0.33x
Channel Islands 10 0.96x
Northumberland 10 0.19x
Pembrokeshire 9 0.80x
Wiltshire 9 0.29x
Nottinghamshire 8 0.17x
Midlothian 7 0.15x
Huntingdonshire 6 0.86x
Brecknockshire 5 0.71x
Caernarfonshire 5 0.35x
Royal Navy 5 1.19x
Radnorshire 4 1.41x
Hertfordshire 3 0.12x
Cumberland 2 0.07x
Flintshire 2 0.21x
Leicestershire 2 0.05x
West Lothian 2 0.38x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.03x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Merionethshire 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Yarmouth in Norfolk leads with 112 Symonds' recorded in 1881 and an index of 24.98x.

Place Total Index
Great Yarmouth 112 24.98x
Islington London 73 2.14x
Camberwell 41 1.82x
Lambeth 40 1.30x
Birmingham 39 1.32x
Melton Parva 37 850.57x
Bermondsey 29 2.77x
Hornsey 29 6.51x
Over 29 219.03x
Aston 27 1.10x
Ipswich St Margaret 27 18.56x
Mile End Old Town 26 4.68x
Shoreditch London 26 1.70x
St Andrewthe Less 24 9.42x
Caistor Next Yarmouth 23 120.73x
Braunton 21 84.51x
Melcombe Regis 21 21.93x
Battersea 20 1.54x
Crewkerne 20 33.23x
Ealing 20 6.36x
Glanford Brigg 20 99.55x
Longham 20 512.82x
Shimpling 20 337.84x
Bodenham 19 178.91x
Broadway 19 207.20x
Old Artillery Ground 19 62.69x
West Ham 19 1.24x
East Dereham 18 26.32x
St Luke London 18 3.19x
Ashdon 17 167.98x
Bromley London 17 2.19x
Burwell 17 63.62x
Constantine 17 73.28x
Hackney London 17 0.86x
Kirtling 17 171.89x
Rotherhithe 17 3.91x
Southwark St George Martyr 17 2.40x
St Pancras London 17 0.60x
Bethnal Green London 16 1.05x
Clapham 16 3.64x
Hereford All Sts 16 24.19x
Ipswich St Clement 16 14.68x
Gloucester St John Baptist 15 33.64x
Oxford St Ebbe 15 23.44x
Ross 15 26.12x
Toft Monks 15 313.81x
Gorleston 14 12.85x
Great Cornard 14 144.33x
Newent 14 39.90x
St George Hanover 14 3.05x
Walford 14 97.49x
Willesden 14 4.22x
Wyke Regis 14 42.23x
Cardiff St Mary 13 3.85x
Hanley Castle 13 47.26x
Stoke Damerel 13 2.53x
Whitchurch Canonicorum 13 101.17x
Bedminster 12 2.25x
Budock 12 40.01x
Littleham 12 22.40x
Plymouth Charles The 12 3.72x
St Marylebone London 12 0.64x
Bristol St James In 11 10.83x
Chesterton 11 16.00x
Holmer 11 42.32x
Ipswich St Helen 11 21.64x
Kensington London 11 0.56x
Kenwyn 11 10.55x
Loders 11 95.82x
Redenhall 11 52.31x
Upton St Leonards 11 62.75x
Walthamstow 11 4.40x
West Somerton 11 390.07x
Barnham 10 180.83x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 10 6.15x
Shrewsbury St Julian 10 13.29x
St Woollos 10 3.52x
Stibbard 10 175.44x
Tottenham 10 1.78x
Wood Ditton 10 53.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 209
Elizabeth 136
Sarah 118
Emma 64
Jane 63
Ellen 58
Annie 56
Emily 56
Alice 53
Ann 52
Eliza 52
Martha 38
Charlotte 31
Hannah 31
Louisa 30
Florence 29
Caroline 25
Harriet 25
Clara 24
Catherine 22
Kate 22
Edith 19
Amelia 18
Susan 18
Fanny 17
Harriett 17
Maria 17
Rebecca 17
Anna 16
Lucy 15
Margaret 15
Rose 15
Ada 14
Anne 14
Frances 14
Julia 14
Agnes 12
Amy 12
Esther 12
Gertrude 11
Laura 11
Matilda 11
Bessie 10
Ethel 10
Grace 9
Sophia 9
Jessie 8
Lydia 8
Eleanor 7
Ruth 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 225
John 194
George 120
James 108
Henry 93
Thomas 88
Charles 84
Robert 57
Arthur 47
Edward 45
Frederick 38
Alfred 37
Joseph 36
Walter 33
Samuel 31
Harry 28
Albert 23
Ernest 17
Frank 17
Richard 17
Benjamin 15
Herbert 13
Edwin 11
David 10
Wm. 10
Fredrick 9
Daniel 8
Edmund 7
Mark 7
Francis 6
Peter 6
Stephen 6
Sidney 5
Thos. 5
Willm. 5
Abraham 4
Alexander 4
Clement 4
Fredk. 4
Harold 4
Jonathan 4
Percy 4
Allen 3
Bertie 3
Earnest 3
Edgar 3
Horace 3
Noah 3
Simeon 3
Sydney 3

FAQ

Symonds surname: questions and answers

How common was the Symonds surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,598 people were recorded with the Symonds surname. That placed it at #1,255 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Symonds surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 4,559 in 2016. That gives Symonds a modern rank of #1,491.

What does the Symonds surname mean?

Derived from the given name Simon, meaning "one who hears" or "to be heard."

What does the Symonds map show?

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