NameCensus.

UK surname

Symons

A variant of Simeon, derived from the Hebrew name Shimon, meaning "he has heard" or "he who hears."

In the 1881 census there were 4,067 people recorded with the Symons surname, ranking it #1,111 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,942, ranked #1,714, down from #1,111 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, London parishes and Breage. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall and Torridge.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Symons is 5,156 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.1%.

1881 census count

4,067

Ranked #1,111

Modern count

3,942

2016, ranked #1,714

Peak year

1901

5,156 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Symons had 4,067 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,111 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,942 in 2016, ranked #1,714.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,156 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Symons surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Symons surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Symons 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 3,288 #879
1861 historical 2,870 #1,012
1881 historical 4,067 #1,111
1891 historical 4,267 #1,123
1901 historical 5,156 #1,090
1911 historical 5,025 #1,042
1997 modern 3,954 #1,643
1998 modern 4,131 #1,635
1999 modern 4,122 #1,646
2000 modern 4,187 #1,614
2001 modern 4,094 #1,611
2002 modern 4,151 #1,629
2003 modern 4,026 #1,639
2004 modern 4,054 #1,621
2005 modern 3,977 #1,635
2006 modern 3,952 #1,647
2007 modern 3,926 #1,680
2008 modern 3,932 #1,686
2009 modern 4,060 #1,671
2010 modern 4,118 #1,683
2011 modern 4,044 #1,693
2012 modern 3,985 #1,686
2013 modern 4,040 #1,695
2014 modern 4,050 #1,703
2015 modern 3,982 #1,709
2016 modern 3,942 #1,714

Geography

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Where Symons' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, London parishes, Breage, Camborne and Liskeard, St Cleer. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall and Torridge. 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 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 Breage Cornwall
4 Camborne Cornwall
5 Liskeard, St Cleer Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 046 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 047 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 048 Cornwall
4 Torridge 004 Torridge
5 Torridge 005 Torridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Symons

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Symons

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

Symons 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

Symons falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Symons

The surname Symons has its origins in England, with records dating back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the personal name Simon, which was relatively common in medieval times and came from the Hebrew name Shimon, meaning "he has heard."

In its earliest form, the surname was often written as Simone or Simonis, reflecting the patronymic nature of many early surnames. As time passed, various spellings emerged, including Symon, Symonds, and eventually the modern Symons. The name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Devon, Somerset, and Cornwall in southwestern England.

One of the earliest known references to the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which mention a Willelmus filius Simonis (William, son of Simon). The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also include several individuals with the surname, such as Walter Simond and Reginald Symond.

In the 14th century, the Symons surname appeared in various records across England. For example, a John Symond was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327, and a William Symon was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1380.

One notable early bearer of the name was Sir John Symons (c. 1370-1450), a English knight and Member of Parliament for Somerset during the reign of Henry VI. Another was Ralph Symons (c. 1435-1490), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Devon.

Over the centuries, the Symons surname has been associated with several notable individuals. These include the English poet and critic John Addington Symonds (1840-1893), the British Army officer Sir William Penn Symons (1843-1899), who was killed in action during the Second Boer War, and the American author and playwright Ralph Symons (1904-1983).

Other prominent figures with the surname include the British architect Sir Ralph Symons (1924-2017), known for designing the Euston Tower in London, and the Australian musician and songwriter Nick Symons (1968-2009), who was a member of the band Crowded House.

While the Symons surname has evolved over time, its origins can be traced back to the personal name Simon and its early roots in medieval England, particularly in the southwestern counties. Through various historical records and notable bearers, the name has left an indelible mark on the annals of history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Symons families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Symons 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. Cornwall leads with 1,348 Symons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.66x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 1,348 29.66x
Devon 1,114 13.33x
Middlesex 492 1.23x
Surrey 153 0.78x
Somerset 122 1.89x
Lancashire 100 0.21x
Yorkshire 92 0.23x
Glamorgan 83 1.19x
Kent 67 0.49x
Gloucestershire 51 0.65x
Hampshire 48 0.58x
Channel Islands 42 3.53x
Midlothian 38 0.71x
Angus 32 0.86x
Sussex 28 0.41x
Durham 27 0.23x
Monmouthshire 27 0.93x
Lincolnshire 24 0.37x
Cheshire 21 0.24x
Cumberland 16 0.46x
Essex 16 0.20x
Berkshire 15 0.50x
Derbyshire 14 0.22x
Dorset 14 0.53x
Fife 12 0.50x
Norfolk 11 0.18x
Royal Navy 11 2.30x
Staffordshire 11 0.08x
Cambridgeshire 10 0.39x
Stirlingshire 9 0.61x
Northamptonshire 8 0.21x
Northumberland 6 0.10x
Pembrokeshire 6 0.47x
Renfrewshire 6 0.19x
Herefordshire 5 0.30x
Oxfordshire 5 0.20x
Lanarkshire 4 0.03x
Brecknockshire 3 0.37x
Dumfriesshire 3 0.34x
Wiltshire 3 0.08x
Bedfordshire 2 0.10x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.08x
Hertfordshire 2 0.07x
Leicestershire 2 0.04x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.04x
Suffolk 2 0.04x
Warwickshire 2 0.02x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.09x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.13x
Perthshire 1 0.06x
Roxburghshire 1 0.14x
Worcestershire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Damerel in Devon leads with 130 Symons' recorded in 1881 and an index of 22.22x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Damerel 130 22.22x
Plymouth St Andrew 108 16.77x
Camborne 73 38.97x
Barnstaple 68 51.83x
Liskeard 67 88.09x
Plymouth Charles The 65 17.65x
Islington London 48 1.23x
Madron Penzance 48 29.04x
Constantine 40 151.17x
Helston 39 82.54x
Breage 37 89.18x
Hackney London 35 1.55x
Lambeth 35 1.00x
St Marylebone London 34 1.59x
Tavistock 34 35.71x
St Pancras London 33 1.02x
Paul 32 38.75x
Bideford 30 33.51x
Duloe 30 225.06x
Tormoham 30 8.48x
Sithney 29 63.14x
Falmouth 28 17.40x
Portsea 27 1.67x
Barrow In Furness 26 4.01x
Paddington London 26 1.76x
Camberwell 25 0.97x
Tawstock 25 168.46x
Bethnal Green London 24 1.38x
Gwinear 24 111.32x
Poplar London 24 3.17x
West Looe 24 200.50x
Bridgewater 23 13.11x
St Stephen 23 142.68x
Crowan 22 61.09x
Kea 22 64.94x
Spitalfields London 22 7.29x
Wendron 22 34.86x
Ermington 21 69.08x
Phillack 21 35.79x
St Erth 21 76.25x
St Helier 21 5.42x
Stoke 21 62.06x
Battersea 20 1.35x
Bodmin 20 26.59x
Bow London 20 3.91x
Kensington London 20 0.90x
Landkey 20 243.61x
St Teath 20 73.05x
Hammersmith London 19 1.92x
Perranuthnoe 19 153.23x
Egloskerry 18 300.50x
Kenwyn 18 15.14x
Mile End Old Town 18 2.84x
St Austell 18 11.59x
St Cleer 18 45.66x
Veryan 18 102.21x
Clerkenwell London 17 1.79x
Egloshayle 17 79.74x
St Budeaux 17 65.33x
Tintagel 17 137.43x
Redruth 16 12.44x
Southill 16 230.22x
St Kew 16 105.61x
Yealmpton 16 124.81x
Chelsea London 15 1.24x
Croydon 15 1.38x
Exeter St Leonard 15 65.59x
Finchley 15 9.74x
Swansea Town 15 2.62x
Bishops Tawton 14 53.70x
Buckfastleigh 14 36.30x
Exeter St Sidwell 14 7.31x
Illogan 14 11.63x
Malborough 14 42.14x
Westbury On Trym 14 5.25x
Buckland Monachorum 13 72.83x
North Petherwyn 13 110.08x
North Tamerton 13 197.57x
Perranzabuloe 13 33.15x
Wandsworth 13 3.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 297
Elizabeth 186
Jane 92
Sarah 92
Ann 78
Eliza 65
Annie 64
Emily 56
Ellen 50
Emma 50
Alice 36
Louisa 30
Bessie 28
Charlotte 25
Edith 24
Florence 24
Grace 24
Hannah 24
Kate 24
Susan 24
Caroline 23
Catherine 22
Harriet 21
Martha 21
Amelia 20
Maria 20
Lucy 19
Margaret 19
Fanny 16
Selina 15
Lydia 14
Agnes 13
Clara 13
Jessie 12
Laura 12
Rose 12
Ada 10
Eleanor 10
Elizth. 10
Frances 10
Harriett 10
Isabella 10
Blanche 9
Julia 9
Anna 8
Gertrude 8
Matilda 8
Maud 8
Anne 7
Esther 7

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 300
John 282
Thomas 147
James 109
Henry 93
Charles 78
George 75
Richard 62
Samuel 52
Joseph 44
Edward 35
Robert 32
Frederick 29
Alfred 27
Albert 18
Harry 18
Arthur 17
Francis 17
Walter 17
Edwin 16
Ernest 16
Philip 13
Herbert 10
Simon 10
Wm. 10
Frank 9
Alexander 7
Benjamin 7
David 7
Isaac 7
Fred 6
Fredrick 6
Nicholas 6
Stephen 6
Daniel 5
Edmund 5
Emanuel 5
Mark 5
Peter 5
Sidney 5
Willm. 5
Ambrose 4
Andrew 4
Cyrus 4
Edwd. 4
Josiah 4
Percy 4
Phillip 4
Tom 4
Sampson 3

FAQ

Symons surname: questions and answers

How common was the Symons surname in 1881?

In 1881, 4,067 people were recorded with the Symons surname. That placed it at #1,111 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Symons surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,942 in 2016. That gives Symons a modern rank of #1,714.

What does the Symons surname mean?

A variant of Simeon, derived from the Hebrew name Shimon, meaning "he has heard" or "he who hears."

What does the Symons map show?

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