Simeon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Similar to many French family names, the distinguished surname Simeon is a proud sign of a rich and ancient ancestry. The earliest forms of hereditary surnames in France were the patronymic surnames, which are derived from the father's given name, and metronymic surnames, which are derived from the mother's given name. The patronyms were derived from a variety of given names that were of many different origins. As well as the names of the saints of the Christian Church, many of the most common French surnames are derived from personal names of Germanic origin. They derive from the language of the Visigoths, who controlled France between the mid-5th and early 8th centuries. Simeon is derived from the Hebrew personal name Shim'on, meaning to hearken.
Early Origins of the Simeon family
The surname Simeon was first found in Lorraine where they held a family seat and are said to be descended from the first French Simon or Sigismond, the Duke of Lorraine, 1115 A.D. who was succeeded by Simon II in 1179. There is also some distant relationship to Simond, King of Bourgogne. Robert Simon is cited as a knight in 1169. 1
This prolific family dispersed to many parts of France including Kerbringal, Val-au-Houlle, Vallemoisan, Villeneuve and Ligou in Brittany, Plainmarais in Normandie, Quirielle in Bourbonnais, Maine, Laval, Montillemart and Ratisbone. Abbot Honoré-Richard Simon was a noted researcher who died in 1693. Richard Simon was a celebrated orator who died in 1712. Denis Simon was a noted jurist who died in 1731. Antoine Simon was guardian of the dauphin Louis XVII at Temple Prison in 1793. In Britain this surname Simon became the family name of the Viscounts and Barons Simon.
Gregoire Simon, born in 1631, son of Jean and Simone (née Bancherelle), travelled to Canada in the 17th century. He married Jeanne Collet, born in 1645, daughter of Michel and Marie (née Henaut), in Montreal, Quebec on 31st December 1668. They settled together in Montreal until they passed away on 8th May 1691. 2
Early History of the Simeon family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Simeon research. The years 1638 and 1712 are included under the topic Early Simeon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Simeon Spelling Variations
Spelling variations of this family name include: Simon, Simond, Simmon, Simmond, Simeon, Simmeon, Simian, Simiane, Simmiane, Simmian, Le Simon, Simmonde, Simonde, Simont, Simonte, De Simon, Du Simon, du Simon, de Simon, Simons, Simmonne, Simmonet and many more.
Early Notables of the Simeon family
More information is included under the topic Early Simeon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Simeon Ranking
In the United States, the name Simeon is the 16,344th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3 However, in France, the name Simeon is ranked the 2,253rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,848 people with that name. 4
Simeon migration to the United States +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Simeon Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Joseph Simeon, aged 38, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1846 5
- Feliz Eugene Simeon, who arrived in Texas in 1850-1906 5
- Seth, Simeon Jr., who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 5
- Mathias Simeon, who arrived in Texas in 1851 5
- Mathis Simeon, who landed in Texas in 1851 5
Contemporary Notables of the name Simeon (post 1700) +
- Sir John Simeon (b. 1895), 4th Baronet, Member of Parliament for Southampton
- Sir John Simeon (1756-1824), 1st Baronet, British politician, Member of Parliament for Reading (1797–1802) and (1806–1818), son of Richard Simeon of Reading, and brother of Charles Simeon
- Charles Simeon (1759-1836), English evangelical clergyman, the fourth son of Richard Simeon (d. 1784) of Reading
- Silvano Simeon (1945-2010), Italian discus thrower
- Sir Richard Godin Simeon (1784-1854), 2nd Baronet, English Liberal Party politician, Member of Parliament for Isle of Wight (1832-1837)
- Sir John Simeon (1815-1870), 3rd Baronet, British politician and naval officer
- Eric Joseph Simeon (1918-2007), Indian school educationalist
- David Simeon (b. 1943), British actor
- Captain Charles Simeon (1816-1867), English settler, one of the members of the Canterbury Association who emigrated to Canterbury in New Zealand in 1851
- Arthur Simeon (b. 1983), Uganda-born, Canadian stand-up comedian
The Simeon 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: C'est mon plaisir
Motto Translation: It is my pleasure.
Citations +
- Hozier, Charles D, and Antoine Bachelin-Delforenne. État présent De La Noblesse française (1883-1887): Contenant Le Distionnaire De La Noblesse Contemporaine Et Larmorial général De France, Dapres Les Manuscrits De Ch. D Hozier. Librairie Des Bibliophiles, 1884. Print.
- Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
- 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)