| ![Show Contents]() Symmes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Boernicians of the Scottish/English Borderlands spawned the name Symmes. It comes from the Medieval given name Sim which was derived from Simon, but denoted son of Simon. 1 Early Origins of the Symmes familyThe surname Symmes 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 Symmes familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Symmes 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 Symmes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Symmes Spelling VariationsScribes in the Middle Ages simply spelled according to sound. The result is an enormous number of spelling variations among names that evolved in that era. Symmes has been spelled Simms, Symes, Sime, Simes, Sim, Sym, Syms, Syme and others. Early Notables of the Symmes familyNotable 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 Symmes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Symmes family to Ireland
Some of the Symmes 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.
| Symmes migration to the United States | + |
Most of the Boernician-Scottish families who came to North America settled on the eastern seaboard of what would become the United States and Canada. Families who wanted a new order stayed south in the War of Independence, while those who were still loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, the ancestors of these families have gone on to rediscover their heritage through Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Symmes or a variant listed above:
Symmes Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Rev. Zechariah Symmes, (1599-1671), was an English Puritan clergyman, in Boston, Massachusetts in 1634 aboard the ship "Griffin", bound for Charlestown where he became the first pastor in the First Church. 4
- Mrs. Sarah Symmes, (nee Baker), from Dunstable, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1634 aboard the ship "Griffin", wife of Zechariah bound for Charlestown 5
- William Symmes, from Dunstable, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1634 aboard the ship "Griffin", son of Zechariah bound for Charlestown 5
- Mary Symmes, from Dunstable, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1634 aboard the ship "Griffin", daughter of Zechariah bound for Charlestown 5
- Elizabeth Symmes, from Dunstable, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1634 aboard the ship "Griffin", daughter of Zechariah bound for Charlestown 5
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Symmes (post 1700) | + |
- Rev. Timothy Symmes (1715-1756), American preacher from Suffolk County, New York, father of the Continental Congress delegate John Cleves Symmes
- John Cleves Symmes (1742-1814), American delegate to the Continental Congress from New Jersey who later pioneered throughout the Northwest Territory, father-in-law of President William Henry Harrison
- John Cleves Symmes Jr. (1780-1829), American Army officer, trader, and lecturer from Sussex County, New Jersey, best known for his Hollow Earth Theory in 1818
- John C. Symmes, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 10½ aerial victories
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.
- 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
- 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)
- Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
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Symmes migration to the United States 
Scotland
Ireland
England
