SYMON
Symon is a patronymic surname that originates from the given name Simon, which itself derives from the Hebrew name Shim'on. The Hebrew root conveys the sense of “he has heard” or “hearkening,” a meaning that carries through to the English version of the name. As an apostle of the New Testament, Simon holds considerable biblical significance, and the surname thus carries a religious heritage that has reinforced its usage over the centuries.
The name entered English usage in the early‑medieval period. The first recorded instance of the personal name without a surname appears in the 1134 Records of St. Benet of Holme in Norfolk. The surname itself first appears in the latter half of the thirteenth century, with early forms such as Simon, Simeon, Simion and Simmen. A notable early spelling is that of John Simond, dated 1273 in the “Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire” during the reign of King Edward I, known as “The Hammer of the Scots.” Other early bearers include William Simon listed in the 1291 Calendar of Letter Books of the City of London and John Simon recorded in the 1296 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex. The name has persisted in various spellings through the long history of English record keeping.
Geographically, the surname is found throughout the British Isles, with a particular concentration in Scotland where the Gaelic language interacted strongly with Christian traditions. Church registers in Northern France and the Channel Islands of Jersey, Guernsey, Sark and Alderney record the name, suggesting French and Norman influence in the diffusion of the surname. In more recent centuries, migration has spread the name to Australia, Canada, the United States, New Zealand, South Africa, India and Israel. In Australia, the name is especially common in Queensland, New South Wales, the Northern Territory and Victoria, while in Canada it appears in the French‑Canadian population. In the United States it is most frequently noted in Pennsylvania and California.
The heraldic devices most often associated with the Symon surname illustrate traditional symbolic elements. The coat of arms is described as a shield divided per fess with black and gold, a pale counterchanged and three gold trefoils slipped; the crest consists of the stump of a tree eradicated proper surmounted by two gold laurel branches crossing in saltire. Such a design reinforces the family’s connection to heraldic tradition and the religious symbolism implicit in the laurel motif.
References to the surname in historical records show that it is not merely a single family line but has many variants that have emerged over time. These include Symons, Simmons, Simmonds, Symms, Symonsen, Semon, Simson, Symonse, Simen, Simones, Symone, Sommers, Semons, Symonson, Simondson, Simmens, Simmance, Simmgen, Simcik, Simkovic, Simeonov and other forms that reflect regional linguistic influences.
In contemporary times, bearers of the Symon surname are recognised within societies that value strong‑will, ambition and independence, traits that are often highlighted in biographical accounts of notable individuals with the name. The continued use of the surname across diverse cultures underlines its enduring legacy and the broad appeal of its biblical and etymological roots.
Typical given names associated with the Symon surname
Male
- Alan
- Alexander
- Alistair
- David
- George
- Graham
- James
- John
- Kenneth
- Robert
- Scott
- William
Female
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Jane
- Jean
- Jennifer
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Sheila
- Victoria
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 Symon in...
Braille
⠎⠽⠍⠕⠝
Morse
...-.--------.
Semaphore
There are approximately 737 people named Symon in the UK. That makes it roughly the 9,330th most common surname in Britain. Around 11 in a million people in Britain are named Symon.
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Scotland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Symon
- Scot Symon - Scottish football player and manager (1911 to 1985)
- Josiah Symon - Australian politician (1846 to 1934)
- David Symon - Australian politician (1859 to 1924)
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.