Show ContentsSimpson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname Simpson came from the baptismal name Simon, which was originally derived from the Hebrew word Shimeon meaning obedience. In the religious naming tradition surnames were bestowed in honor of religious figures or church officials. In Europe, the Christian Church was one of the most powerful influences on the formation of given names. Personal names derived from the names of saints, apostles, biblical figures, and missionaries are widespread in most European countries. In the Middle Ages, they became increasingly popular because people believed that the souls of the deceased continued to be involved in this world. They named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint.

Early Origins of the Simpson family

The surname Simpson was first found in Buckinghamshire where Simpson was listed in the Domesday Book as Sevinstone or Siwinestone, lands held by the Bishop of Countances. [1]

The place literally meant "farmstead of a man called Sigewine" derived from the Old Scandinavian personal name + tun. [2]

At that time, the land consisted of 8 hides (each hide would support one household), 3 virgates (three quarters of a hide) and land enough to support 8 ploughs. There were 13 villans (peasants), 2 bordars and 6 slaves [1].

Today Simpson is a village and civil parish in Milton Keynes and had a population of 585 people in the late 1800s. Another source has a different understanding of the name's origin. "The Simpsons of Knaresborough trace their lineage from the time of Edward the Confessor, and from Archill, a Saxon thane, living in that reign of the Conqueror. Among his vast possessions was the manor of Clint in Yorkshire. The name of Simpson was adopted from Symon, son of William de Clynt who was living in the year 1300. " [3]

The name is "characteristic of the northern half of England. Yorkshire is its great home, it being very numerous in the North and East Ridings. In the surrounding counties of Durham, Lancashire, Cheshire, Stafford, and Derby, it is also well represented. Though it has established itself in some measure in Suffolk and Essex, it is with these exceptions eminently a name of the northern counties and northern midlands. It is represented over a large part of Scotland, but is rare in the north." [4]

In Staffordshire, Richard Symmeson was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1353. A few years later, Adam Symson was found in Whitby, Yorkshire in 1395, as was John Simpson in 1397. John Symson or Sympson was registered in Lincolnshire in 1487. [5]

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Johannes Symson; Johannes Symmeson; and Johannes Symnson. [6]

Early History of the Simpson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Simpson research. Another 171 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1050, 1405, 1500, 1578, 1599, 1600, 1602, 1611, 1618, 1620, 1627, 1642, 1651, 1655, 1656, 1657, 1669, 1671 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Simpson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Simpson Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Simpson has been recorded under many different variations, including Simpson, Simson, Simsoun, Symson, Symsoun and many more.

Early Notables of the Simpson family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Edward Simpson or Simson (1578-1651), English divine, son of Edward Simpson, rector of Tottenham, was born at Tottenham on 9 May 1578. In 1611 he became chaplain to Sir Moyle Finch of Eastwell in Kent...
  • Nathaniel Simpson (1599-1642), was an early English mathematician, born at Skipton in Yorkshire in 1599, was probably a member of the family of Simpson of Havery Park. [7]
  • Sidrach Simpson (c. 1600-1655), was an English Independent minister, one of the Independent faction in the Westminster Assembly; and Christopher Simpson (ca.1602-1669), an English musician and compose...
  • Thomas Simpson (fl. 1620), was an English musician, one of two prominent English musicians who settled in Germany during the early seventeenth century. [7]
  • William Simpson or Sympson (1627?-1671), was an English Quaker, a native of Lancashire who joined the Society of Friends about 1656. In that year he received money from the common fund to go to Scotla...

Simpson World Ranking

In the United States, the name Simpson is the 126th most popular surname with an estimated 174,090 people with that name. [8] However, in Canada, the name Simpson is ranked the 120th most popular surname with an estimated 25,576 people with that name. [9] And in France, the name Simpson is the 8,962nd popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. [10] Australia ranks Simpson as 75th with 31,631 people. [11] New Zealand ranks Simpson as 29th with 5,751 people. [12] The United Kingdom ranks Simpson as 59th with 73,755 people. [13]

Ireland Migration of the Simpson family to Ireland

Some of the Simpson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Simpson migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Simpson or a variant listed above:

Simpson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Simpson, who landed in Virginia in 1623 [14]
  • Robert Simpson, who settled in Salem in 1630 part of the Winthrop Fleet
  • Mr. Robert Simpson, (Sympson), who left England and arrived in Maryland in 1634 aboard the ship "Ark and Dove" [14]
  • Mr. Thomas Simpson, (b. 1611), aged 24, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Constance" arriving in Virginia in 1635 [15]
  • Mr. John Simpson, (b. 1605), aged 30, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Truelove" arriving in Massachusetts Bay in 1635 [16]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Simpson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anne Simpson, who landed in Virginia in 1702 [14]
  • Rowland Simpson, who landed in Virginia in 1703 [14]
  • Andrew Simpson, who arrived in New England in 1720 [14]
  • Peter Simpson, who landed in New England in 1733 [14]
  • Alexander Simpson, who landed in New England in 1735 [14]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Simpson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Andrew Patrick Simpson, who landed in North Carolina in 1801 [14]
  • Mary Jane Simpson, aged 5, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1805 [14]
  • Matt Simpson, aged 30, who landed in Boston, Massachusetts in 1805 [14]
  • Matt, Simpson Jr., aged 3, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1805 [14]
  • Hugh Simpson, who arrived in South Carolina in 1806 [14]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Simpson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Donald Simpson, who arrived in Colorado in 1907 [14]

Canada Simpson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Simpson Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Richard Simpson, who settled in Newfoundland in 1704 [17]
  • John Simpson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Jos Simpson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • James Simpson, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • John Simpson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Simpson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • A Simpson, aged 24, who landed in Canada in 1811
  • Alexander Simpson, who landed in Canada in 1815
  • John Simpson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1815
  • John Simpson, aged 62, who arrived in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1815-1816
  • John F Simpson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1815
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Simpson migration to Australia +

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

Simpson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Henry Hart Simpson, (b. 1776), aged 24, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [18]
  • Mr. Francis Simpson, (Frank), Irish convict who was convicted in Galway, Ireland for lif, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 30th May 1802, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1803 by hanging for his part in the Castle Hill escape. [19]
  • Mr. John Simpson, (Gatehouse, George), British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [20]
  • Mr. Abel Simpson, (b. 1787), aged 20, English convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for life for theft, transported aboard the "Duke of Portland" in January 1807, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [21]
  • Mr. John Simpson, English convict who was convicted in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1821 [22]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Simpson 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:

Simpson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Simpson, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston, UK aboard the ship "Brazil Packet" arriving in New Zealand in 1836 [23]
  • Captain Simpson, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Delhi" arriving in New Zealand in 1840 [23]
  • James Simpson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bengal Merchant [24]
  • William Simpson, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Thomas Ritchie Simpson, aged 21, a farm servant, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 [25]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Simpson migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [26]
Simpson Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Edward Simpson, (b. 1622), aged 13, British settler travelling aboard the ship "The Dorset" arriving in Barbados in September 1635 [27]
  • Mr. William Simpson, (b. 1618), aged 17, British settler travelling aboard the ship "The Dorset" arriving in Barbados in September 1635 [27]

Contemporary Notables of the name Simpson (post 1700) +

  • Lendward Simpson (1948-2024), retired African-American professional tennis player and founder of One Love Tennis, a tennis and academic enrichment program for at-risk kids
  • E.J. "Bill" Simpson (1940-2019), American racecar driver, pioneer in the racing safety business with his company Simpson Performance Products
  • James Shores "Jim" Simpson (1927-2016), American sportscaster, awarded the Sports Lifetime Achievement Award, inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association Hall of Fame in 2000
  • Joseph "Red" Simpson (1934-2016), American country singer-songwriter
  • Robert Homer Simpson (1912-2014), American meteorologist, hurricane specialist, first director of the National Hurricane Research Project
  • General William Hood Simpson KBE (1888-1980), U.S. Army officer who commanded the U.S. Ninth Army in northern Europe, during World War II
  • Donald Clarence "Don" Simpson (1943-1996), American film producer, screenwriter, and actor, best known for his work on Flashdance (1983), Beverly Hills Cop (1984) and Top Gun (1986)
  • James Frederick Webb Simpson (b. 1985), American professional PGA golfer, winner of the Masters Tournament (2012), U.S. Open (2012), The Open Championship (2011) the PGA Championship (2013) and many more
  • Jessica Ann Simpson (b. 1980), American recording artist, actress, television personality and fashion designer
  • Ashley "Ashlee" Nicolle Simpson (b. 1984), American singer-songwriter and actress
  • ... (Another 212 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Halifax Explosion
  • Mr. Edward James  Simpson (1887-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) [28]
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. Benjamin Simpson (1911-1941), Australian Petty Officer Telegraphist from Richmond, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [29]
  • Mr. Charles Henry Simpson (1908-1941), Australian Able Seaman from East Richmond, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [29]
  • Mr. Reginald Austin Simpson (1917-1941), Australian Ordinary Telegraphist from Quorn, South Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [29]
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Peter Simpson (b. 1923), Scottish Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Kirkcudbright, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [30]
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Simpson, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking [31]
HMS Royal Oak
  • Stanley Simpson (1914-1939), British Leading Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [32]
  • John Robert Simpson (d. 1939), British Leading Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [32]
  • Richard Harold Simpson (1920-1939), British Stoker 2nd Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [32]
  • George Raymond Simpson (d. 1939), British Able Seaman with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking [32]
Monongah Mine
  • Mr. Frank Simpson (b. 1881), Italian coal miner who was in mine 8 at the Monongah mine on 6th December 1907 when it exploded and collapsed; he died [33]
Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)
  • Martin Bernard Christopher Simpson (1936-1988), American Financier from Brooklyn, New York, America, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died [34]
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Malcolm Simpson, English First Waiter from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking [35]
  • Mr. Edward Simpson, English 3rd Class passenger residing in Lawrence, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking [36]
  • Reverend Henry Wood Simpson, Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Roseland, British Columbia, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking by escaping in a boat [36]
RMS Titanic
  • Dr. John Edward Simpson (d. 1912), aged 37, English Assistant Surgeon from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [37]
SS Atlantic
  • John Simpson, crew member who was aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, survived the sinking
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Albert Eugene Simpson, American Seaman First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking [38]


The Simpson 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: Nil desperandum
Motto Translation: Never despairing.


Suggested Readings for the name Simpson +

  • The Descendants of Simpson-Roach Families of South Carolina by Max Peery.
  • Look Back with Pride by Dorothea Simpson Meriwether.
  • Simpson, Family of the American Frontier by John Worth Simpson.

  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  7. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  10. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  11. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  12. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  13. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  14. 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)
  15. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  16. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 6th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  17. Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duke-of-portland
  22. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  23. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  24. Shadow Time Settlers (Retrieved 5th November 2010), retrieved from http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/settlers.html
  25. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  26. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  27. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 29th September 2021. Retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  28. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  29. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  30. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  31. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  32. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  33. Monongah Mining Disaster retrieved on 8th August 2021. (Retrieved fromhttps://usminedisasters.miningquiz.com/saxsewell/monongah.htm).
  34. Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html
  35. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  36. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  37. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  38. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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