SIMONSON
The surname Simonson is a patronymic name that ultimately derives from the Hebrew personal name Shimon, meaning “he has heard.” The ending –son, common in Anglo‑Saxon and Scandinavian onomastics, indicates “son of,” making Simonson translate literally as “son of Simon.”
In Britain it is recorded under its English form, but it is also found extensively in Scandinavian countries where it is frequently spelt Simonsen. It belongs to a group of surnames that have been documented in over one hundred variations across Europe, including Simeon, Siomon, Schimon, Simeoni, Sias, and more obscure forms such as Ziemke and Ziemen. The earliest known personal use of the name Simon dates from 1134 in the register of St. Benet’s, Holme Abbey, Norfolk, England, where a monk named Simonus is listed. The surname itself first appears in the latter half of the thirteenth century, for example in the record of John Simond in 1273 and of William Simon in the 1291 Calendar of Letter Books of London.
The Scandinavian development of the name mirrors the patronymic tradition known in Norway, Denmark and Sweden, where the suffix –sen or –sson also denotes “son of.” In Norway, the form Simonsson is common, while Simonsen is generally used in Denmark. The name may also have arisen as a variation of Simpson, an occupational surname for a cloth maker, or from the Old Norse word semme, meaning “same” or “similar.”
Modern demographic data show that the name is most frequently encountered in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Sweden. Within the United States, Simonson is concentrated in the upper Midwest, particularly Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota and North Dakota, where it is thought to have been brought by Swedish settlers in the nineteenth century. Canadian usage is greatest in the western provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, whereas in the United Kingdom the name appears mainly in Lancashire, Yorkshire and Cumbria, areas where it has been recorded since the eleventh century. In Sweden it is most common in the southern provinces of Skåne, Blekinge, Halland and Västra Götaland.
A long list of variants is recognised, many of which are simply orthographic differences or adaptations to local languages. These include Simonsdotter, Simondson, Simensen, Simmonsen, Simen, Symonson, Simmerson, and others such as Simonsen and Simonsen. The range of spellings reflects the name’s passage through different linguistic traditions, but the core element –Simon– remains recognisable.
Throughout history the surname has remained in continuous use, being passed down as a family name from generation to generation. While it is occasionally employed as a first name, this is rare compared with its frequency as a surname, and it is expected to continue in use for many years to come.
Typical given names associated with the Simonson surname
Male
- Alexander
- Arthur
- Chris
- Christopher
- David
- Frank
- John
- Jonathan
- Lawrence
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- William
Female
- Alma
- Amanda
- Beverley
- Catherine
- Chloe
- Claudine
- Eleanor
- Hilary
- Jayne
- Lesley
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Rachel
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 Simonson in...
Braille
⠎⠊⠍⠕⠝⠎⠕⠝
Morse
.....------....----.
Semaphore
There are approximately 127 people named Simonson in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around two in a million people in Britain are named Simonson.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
