SYMES
Symes is a surname of English origin, derived from the medieval given name Simon. The name Simon itself originates from the Hebrew word Shim’on, meaning “he who hears” or “hearkening”. In the Greek tradition the name appears as Simōn, and it was adopted into English usage during the medieval period.
The surname Symes behaves as a patronymic, indicating descent from a man called Simon. The final “s” functions as a genitive marker, equivalent to “son of”. Such a construction was common in medieval England, where surnames were often formed from the father’s given name.
Records of the name appear early in the English archives. The first reference to the given name Simon in England is found in the 1134 Records of St. Benet of Holme in Norfolk. The surname itself is recorded for the first time in the early fourteenth century: Ralph Simme in the 1317 Assize Court Rolls of Kent, and John Symme in the 1345 Court Rolls of Colchester. A later early example is Robert Symmes, appearing in the 1379 Poll Tax Returns of Yorkshire during the reign of King Richard I, known as Richard of Bordeaux.
During the seventeenth century, bearers of the name crossed the Atlantic. A record of Margaret Symes, an immigrant into Virginia, appears on the 1624 death list for that colony. In 1635, an 19-year-old Alexander Symes departed London aboard the ship Abraham bound for Virginia.
In contemporary times the surname remains uncommon. The 2011 UK Census recorded 2,755 individuals with the name Symes, the majority residing in England and Wales. Internationally it occurs in English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada and Australia, though the name’s frequency is low: in the United States it ranks around 22,116th, in Canada about 36,912th, and in New Zealand 11,269th. The surname is also known in Ireland, where it spread in the 17th century through migration.
Variant spellings of the name include Sims, Simes, Sym s, Symms and Simms. These variations all share the same patronymic origin, differing only in spelling conventions that evolved over time and across regions. The Scottish form is typically Syme, while in other parts of Europe the name appears as Simons, Simmons or the Spanish and Portuguese Simoes.
An alternative, less frequented explanation cites an Anglo‑Saxon derivation from the Old English word symmes, referring to a person who lived near or worked at a timber bridge. While this etymology has been proposed, it lacks the broader documentary support enjoyed by the patronymic theory and is therefore considered less probable.
Overall, Symes is a surname firmly rooted in the tradition of patronymic naming in England, with clear linguistic ties to the Hebrew name Shim’on through the medieval variant Simon. Its historical records attest to a presence in England from the early fourteenth century, a migration to America in the seventeenth century, and a modest but persistent presence in English‑speaking countries today.
Typical given names associated with the Symes surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Stephen
Female
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Jane
- Janet
- Jennifer
- Julie
- Linda
- Margaret
- Marion
- Mary
- 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 Symes in...
Braille
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Morse
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There are approximately 3,787 people named Symes in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,459th most common surname in Britain. Around 58 in a million people in Britain are named Symes.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Symes
- Michael Symes - Football player
- George William Symes - (1896 to 1980)
- John Symes - Cricket player (1879 to 1942)
- Ernie Symes - Football player (1892 to 1)
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.