SIMON

Simon is a British surname that is commonly encountered across England and the wider United Kingdom. Its prevalence reflects its long history and its roots in both the Christian and Jewish traditions of the British Isles. The name is generally understood to denote a descendant of an ancestor who bore the given name Simon, and it has remained in continuous use since the late Middle Ages.

The origin of Simon can be traced to the Hebrew personal name Shimon, which means “he has heard” or “hear‑kening.” This etymology is confirmed by the biblical association of the name with six distinct saints, most notably Simon the Apostle, one of the twelve messengers of Jesus. The name was introduced into England through the Norman Conquest and the spread of Christianity, where it was adopted by families of both Christian and Jewish faiths. Its acceptance in the English language has been aided by the similarity between the Old English phoneme sīm and the biblical root.

Throughout Europe the surname exhibits a wide range of spellings. In England it appears as Simon, Simco, Simcoe and Simko, while in France it may be seen as Simonett. Italian records show forms such as Simeoni and Simonetti; German usage includes Simao and Ziemke; the Polish tradition contributes variants like Siaspinski and Siaskowski. The Czech name Schimann and the Prussian Ziemen illustrate the surname’s adaptation to local languages and alphabets. Many of these variants function as patronymics, indicating “son of Simon,” as seen in the English suffix ‑son and the German ‑ken.

Documented evidence of the surname dates back to the early 12th century. The earliest personal record appears in the register of St. Benet’s, Holme Abbey, Norfolk, in 1134, when a monk named Simonus was mentioned. The surname itself first appears in the latter half of the 13th century; notable entries include Pieter Ziemke of Hamburg, Germany, in 1289, and William Simon in the Calendar of Letter Books of the City of London in 1292. Additional medieval attestations include Ernest Symers of Bremen, Germany, in 1262, Tomas Symcoke of Staffordshire in 1395, and the earliest known surname spelling, John Simond, recorded in 1273 in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire under the reign of King Edward I, known as “the Hammer of the Scots.”

In summary, the surname Simon exemplifies a lineage that combines linguistic heritage from Hebrew, Greek and Latin, with a strong Christian and medieval European presence. Its enduring use throughout the British Isles and its numerous European spellings attest to the name’s adaptability and its significance across multiple cultures.

Typical given names associated with the Simon surname

Male

• Andrew
• David
• John
• Mark
• Michael
• Nicholas
• Paul
• Peter
• Richard
• Robert

Female

• Elizabeth
• Emma
• Jennifer
• Judith
• Margaret
• Maria
• Mary
• Michelle
• Patricia
• Pauline
• Rachel
• Samantha
• Sarah
• Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Simon in...

Braille

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Morse

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Semaphore

Surname type: From given name or forename

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Simon

• Paul Simon - American musician, songwriter and producer
• Carly Simon - American singer-songwriter, musician and author
• Eugene Simon - Actor
• Josette Simon - Actress
• John Simon, 1st Viscount Simon - Politician (1873 to 1954)
• Neil Simon - American playwright, writer, academic (1927 to 2018)
• Siôn Simon - Politician, activist
• Robin Simon - Musician
• Ernest Simon, 1st Baron Simon of Wythenshawe - Industrialist, politician and public servant (1879 to 1960)
• Peregrine Simon - Judge
• David Simon, Baron Simon of Highbury - Baron
• Brian Simon - Trade unionist (1915 to 2002)
• Shena Simon - Politician (1883 to 1972)
• Jan David Simon, 3rd Viscount Simon - Viscount
• Glyn Simon - Bishop (1903 to 1972)
• Jay Simon - Actor
• Roger Simon, 2nd Baron Simon of Wythenshawe - Solicitor and left wing journalist and political activist (1913 to 2002)
• Edith Simon - Author, artist and historian (1917 to 2003)
• Ingo Simon - Archer, singer and poet (1875 to 1964)
• Leon Simon - Politician (1881 to 1965)

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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