NameCensus.

UK surname

Syms

A Sephardic Jewish surname derived from the Hebrew name "Simcha" meaning joy or gladness.

In the 1881 census there were 473 people recorded with the Syms surname, ranking it #7,057 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 418, ranked #11,472, down from #7,057 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes and Totnes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Hams, Wyre and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Syms is 503 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 11.6%.

1881 census count

473

Ranked #7,057

Modern count

418

2016, ranked #11,472

Peak year

2000

503 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Syms had 473 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,057 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 418 in 2016, ranked #11,472.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 496 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Syms surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Syms surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Syms 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 443 #5,557
1861 historical 305 #8,321
1881 historical 473 #7,057
1891 historical 427 #8,391
1901 historical 447 #8,746
1911 historical 496 #7,867
1997 modern 496 #9,352
1998 modern 501 #9,578
1999 modern 493 #9,765
2000 modern 503 #9,589
2001 modern 492 #9,592
2002 modern 486 #9,833
2003 modern 472 #9,889
2004 modern 462 #10,092
2005 modern 453 #10,155
2006 modern 456 #10,149
2007 modern 452 #10,298
2008 modern 439 #10,640
2009 modern 459 #10,502
2010 modern 465 #10,618
2011 modern 455 #10,691
2012 modern 408 #11,567
2013 modern 416 #11,575
2014 modern 419 #11,592
2015 modern 424 #11,364
2016 modern 418 #11,472

Geography

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Where Syms' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), London parishes, Totnes, Southampton St Mary and Marcham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Hams, Wyre, Cornwall, Rhondda Cynon Taf and Teignbridge. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 Totnes Devon
4 Southampton St Mary Hampshire
5 Marcham Berkshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Hams 003 South Hams
2 Wyre 001 Wyre
3 Cornwall 019 Cornwall
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 013 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Teignbridge 008 Teignbridge

Forenames

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First names often paired with Syms

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Syms

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Syms surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Syms household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Syms is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Syms is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Syms

The surname "SYMS" originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English given name "Simun" or "Sim," which in turn came from the Hebrew name "Shim'on," meaning "he has heard." The addition of the diminutive suffix "-s" or "-es" formed the patronymic surname, indicating that the bearer was the son of someone named Sim.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1195, where a Robert Symes is mentioned. The name also appears in the Feet of Fines for Yorkshire in 1301, with a reference to a William Symes.

The Syms family was particularly concentrated in the counties of Devon and Somerset in southwestern England. In the 16th century, the surname was often spelled as "Simmes" or "Symes," and it was not until the 17th century that the modern spelling of "Syms" became more prevalent.

Notable individuals with the surname Syms include William Syms (c. 1540-1616), a wealthy merchant and benefactor from Devon, who bequeathed funds for the establishment of a grammar school in the town of Tiverton. Another notable figure was Sir Walter Syms (1589-1671), a Member of Parliament for Totnes in Devon during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, John Syms (1703-1770) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. George in the East and the Church of St. Mary Woolnoth. Meanwhile, in the United States, Benjamin Syms (1767-1828) was a successful merchant and shipowner from New York City.

During the 19th century, Andrew Syms (1825-1901) was a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the city of Aberdeen. He founded the Syms Printing Works, which became one of the largest printing establishments in Scotland.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals with the surname Syms throughout history, highlighting the rich and varied heritage associated with this English surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Syms families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Syms 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. Devon leads with 87 Syms' recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.04x.

County Total Index
Devon 87 9.04x
Somerset 74 9.94x
Middlesex 68 1.47x
Surrey 57 2.53x
Dorset 34 11.20x
Lancashire 29 0.53x
Kent 24 1.52x
Hampshire 19 2.00x
Wiltshire 18 4.40x
Monmouthshire 9 2.69x
Sussex 8 1.03x
Cornwall 7 1.34x
Cumberland 7 1.76x
Hertfordshire 7 2.20x
Cheshire 5 0.49x
Essex 4 0.44x
Berkshire 3 0.86x
Gloucestershire 3 0.33x
Lincolnshire 2 0.27x
Channel Islands 1 0.73x
Dumfriesshire 1 0.98x
Herefordshire 1 0.53x
Lanarkshire 1 0.07x
Leicestershire 1 0.20x
Norfolk 1 0.14x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.16x
Stirlingshire 1 0.59x
Suffolk 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Camberwell in Surrey leads with 20 Syms' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.77x.

Place Total Index
Camberwell 20 6.77x
Islington London 17 3.79x
Totnes 17 301.95x
Yarlington 16 4848.48x
North Cadbury 14 985.92x
Ashburton 13 282.61x
Portland 13 79.66x
Compton Dundon 11 1208.79x
Kensington London 11 4.28x
Bermondsey 10 7.26x
Deptford St Paul 10 8.22x
Owermoigne 10 1492.54x
Southampton St Mary 10 16.78x
Toxteth Park 9 4.84x
Blackford 8 3636.36x
Highweek 8 233.24x
Crediton 7 76.75x
Salisbury St Thomas 7 216.05x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 7 44.33x
Chilmark 6 681.82x
Chiswick 6 23.75x
Exeter Holy Trinity 6 159.15x
Lamplugh 6 300.00x
Melcombe Regis 6 47.69x
St Luke London 6 8.09x
Stockley Pomeroy 6 2142.86x
Twickenham 6 30.27x
Aberystruth 5 16.97x
Barnes 5 52.47x
Bushey 5 65.88x
Cornworthy 5 757.58x
Glastonbury 5 82.37x
Rotherhithe 5 8.75x
St Martins 5 892.86x
St Marylebone London 5 2.03x
Stoke Newington London 5 13.89x
Swindon 5 15.76x
Berry Pomeroy 4 250.00x
Chew Magna 4 153.26x
Compton Pauncefoot 4 1333.33x
Croydon 4 3.20x
East Stonehouse 4 21.10x
Huish Champflower 4 689.66x
Lambeth 4 0.99x
Langton Matravers 4 283.69x
Moss Side 4 13.86x
Northfleet 4 28.78x
Stockport 4 7.61x
Walthamstow 4 12.18x
Walton Le Dale 4 27.14x
Hastings St Mary In The 3 18.04x
Penge 3 10.16x
Shoreditch London 3 1.50x
Skilgate 3 857.14x
Tormoham 3 7.37x
West Derby 3 1.87x
West Teignmouth 3 40.76x
Westbury On Severn East 3 14.63x
Antony 2 39.53x
Bethnal Green London 2 1.00x
Blackley 2 20.79x
Brighton 2 1.27x
Chelsea London 2 1.44x
Duffryn 2 476.19x
East Teignmouth 2 50.76x
Eastbourne 2 5.58x
Exeter St Edmund 2 96.15x
Holdenhurst 2 8.05x
Lewisham 2 2.38x
Lympston 2 116.28x
Marcham 2 160.00x
Minster In Sheppey 2 7.65x
Rochester St Nicholas 2 40.73x
Skirbeck 2 48.31x
Southwark St George Martyr 2 2.15x
St Woollos 2 5.36x
Sutton 2 12.27x
East Brent 1 88.50x
Mortlake 1 9.96x
Ufton Nervet 1 200.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Elizabeth 20
Sarah 15
Ann 14
Alice 9
Ellen 9
Jane 7
Caroline 6
Eliza 6
Emma 6
Margaret 6
Annie 5
Louisa 5
Susan 5
Ada 4
Catherine 4
Emily 4
Kate 4
Martha 4
Esther 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Jessie 3
Julia 3
Maud 3
Minnie 3
Amelia 2
Bessie 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Ethel 2
Harriet 2
Rosa 2
Rose 2
Rosina 2
Anne 1
C. 1
Catharine 1
Christiana 1
Elbena 1
Elizth. 1
Frances 1
Ida 1
Jemima 1
Jennett 1
Katie 1
Lavinia 1
Lily 1
Lucinia 1
Winnifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 32
John 29
George 18
Thomas 14
Edward 11
Robert 10
Henry 9
Charles 8
Philip 6
Frederick 5
James 5
Richard 5
Samuel 5
Arthur 4
Edwin 4
Harry 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
David 3
Herbert 3
Algernon 2
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Frank 2
Fredk. 2
E. 1
Ed. 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Edwards 1
Edwd. 1
Emma 1
Frances 1
Jacob 1
Jane 1
Job 1
Johnathan 1
Joseph 1
Lewis 1
Louis 1
Michael 1
Montague 1
O. 1
Osmond 1
Pasmenas 1
Percy 1
Seth 1
Sidney 1
Silas 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Syms surname: questions and answers

How common was the Syms surname in 1881?

In 1881, 473 people were recorded with the Syms surname. That placed it at #7,057 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Syms surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 418 in 2016. That gives Syms a modern rank of #11,472.

What does the Syms surname mean?

A Sephardic Jewish surname derived from the Hebrew name "Simcha" meaning joy or gladness.

What does the Syms map show?

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