Simner History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Simner is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a "summoner", a petty officer who cited and warned people to appear in court. The surname Simner is derived from the Anglo-French words somenour and sumenour, which in turn were derived from the Old French words somoneor and semoneor, which mean summoner.

Early Origins of the Simner family

The surname Simner was first found in Oxfordshire at Bicester where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say at the time of the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Simner family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Simner research. Another 118 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1598, 1635, 1669 and 1848 are included under the topic Early Simner History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Simner Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Simner include Sumner, Sumners and others.

Early Notables of the Simner family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Willaim Somner (1598-1669), an Anglo-Saxon scholar, baptised in the church of St. Margaret, Canterbury. His father held the office of registrary of the court of Canterbury, under Sir Nathaniel Brent, commissary. "After passing through the free school at...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Simner Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Simner family

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Simner were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Mary Sumner who settled in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630, along with Elizabeth and Henry; Mary Sumner settled in Virginia in 1653; A. Sumner settled in San Francisco, Cal. in 1850.

The Simner Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: In medio tutissimus ibis
Motto Translation: Thou wilt go safest in the middle.