Contents [hide]

Simms History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Simms History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The ancestors of the name Simms lived among the Boernician tribes of ancient Scotland. Simms comes from the Medieval given name Sim which was derived from Simon, but denoted son of Simon. 1

Early Origins of the Simms family

The surname Simms was first found in East Lothian, where the name is a diminutive of Symon and Simeon.

In "Symmie and his Bruder," a satire in the vein of Peblis to the play, we have mention of "Bayth Sym and his bruder," and "Nowthir Syme nor his bruder." 2

Moreover, "Sim is not always representative of Clan Moc-Shimidh as some think-it is a common English name as well." 2

Early records of the name in Scotland include: "Sym Clerk [who] witnessed an instrument of resignation in 1446, John Sym de Banchry, recorded in 1503, Andrew Sym, vicar of Cumry (Comrie) in 1530 and William Sym [who] witnessed a precept of clare constat of 1548. William Sym in Nether Possill is recorded in 1596." 2

At about this time, we also found records in England, specifically Thomas Symme, listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. Christopher Sims, Berkshire appears in the Register of the University of Oxford in 1504; and Ellen Simms, of Warrington is listed in the Wills of Chester in 1593. 1

Early History of the Simms family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Simms research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1162, 1503, 1530, 1596, 1753, 1755, 1774, 1787, 1791, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1799, 1800, 1808, 1809, 1831, 1843, 1845, 1859, 1861, 1866, 1867, 1870, 1889 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Simms History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Simms Spelling Variations

In the many years before the invention of the printing press and the first dictionaries, names and other words were spelled according to sound, often differently with each person who wrote them. Spelling variations of Simms include Simms, Symes, Sime, Simes, Sim, Sym, Syms, Syme and others.

Early Notables of the Simms family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was John Syme (1755-1831), nicknamed "Stamp-Office Johnny," a close friend of Robert Burns'. In the summers of 1793 and 1794, he joined Burns on his two short tours of Galloway. He and Alexander Cunningham were amongst the most active of the friends and admirers of Burns's works who raised funds for the poet's family. Together with Dr Willam Maxwell he arranged Burns's funeral. 3Michael Symes (1753?-1809), was a British soldier and diplomatist, born about 1753, entered the army about 1787, and went to India in the following year with the newly raised...
Another 249 words (18 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Simms Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Simms World Ranking

In the United States, the name Simms is the 1,100^th most popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. 4 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Simms is ranked the 53^rd most popular surname with an estimated 463 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Simms family to Ireland

Some of the Simms family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Simms migration to the United States +

In many cases, the ancestors of many of these Boernician-Scottish people are just now learning of their Scottish heritage. Since the trip was so arduous, and many were fleeing from poverty itself, settlers brought little with them and often had nothing of their personal history to hand down to their children. Clan societies and highland games have helped to correct this problem in the 20th century. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Simmss to arrive on North American shores:

Simms Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Ann Simms, who landed in Maryland in 1663 6
Francis Simms, who arrived in Maryland in 1663 6
Ant Simms, who arrived in Maryland in 1679 6
Elizabeth Simms, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1685 6

Simms Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Simms, who arrived in Virginia in 1787 6

Simms Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Hugh Simms, aged 34, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1820 6
Robert Simms, aged 22, who landed in Key West, Fla in 1837 6
David Simms, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1838 6
Charles Simms, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1870 6
John Simms, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1872 6
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Simms migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Simms Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mr. William S. Simms, aged 3 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Agamemnon" departing 24th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 31st July 1847 but he died on board 7

Simms migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Simms Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

William Simms, English convict from Bedford, who was transported aboard the "Adamant" on March 16, 1821, settling in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. Thomas Simms, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 8th December 1839, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Thomas Simms, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "Anna Maria" on March 6, 1848, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 10
Samuel Simms, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Thomas Lowry" in 1848 11
Edward S. Simms, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Emily" in 1849 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Simms migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Simms Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

James A Simms, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1842
Nicholas Simms, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1842
John Simms, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Alma" in 1857
Benjamin Simms, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Armstrong" in 1865
Hannah Simms, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Armstrong" in 1865
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Simms (post 1700) +

Joseph L. "Zastrow" Simms (1940-2013), American civil rights activist in Annapolis, Maryland
Frank Simms, American singer and voice-over artist, best known for providing the voices of the Kool-Aid Man
William Gilmore Simms (1806-1870), American poet, novelist, and historian
William Emmet Simms (1822-1898), U.S. Congressman and prominent Confederate politician during the American Civil War
Clyde Simms (b. 1982), American soccer player
Charles Simms (1755-1819), American lawyer and politician
Bekah Simms, Canadian classical composer from Mount Pearl, Newfoundland, 2023 Juno winner for classical composition of the year
Eric Arthur Simms DFC (1921-2009), English ornithologist, naturalist, writer, broadcaster and conservationist, awarded Distinguished Flying Cross for his work as a bomb aimer
Frederick Walter Simms (1803-1865), English writer on engineering, born in the parish of St. Anne, Blackfriars, London, son of William Simms, manufacturer of scientific instruments
Noel Bartholomew Simms (1935-2017), Jamaican ska, rocksteady and reggae percussionist
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Simms family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. John Simms, British Seaman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 13

The Simms 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: Fortuna et labore
Motto Translation: By fortune and labor.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 95)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Adamant voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1821 with 144 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adamant/1821
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anna Maria voyage to Van Diemen's Land or Port Phillip, Australia in 1848 with 190 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anna-maria/1848
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THOMAS LOWRY 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848ThomasLowry.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The EMILY 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Emily.htm
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html