Show ContentsKym History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The west coast of Scotland and the rocky Hebrides islands are the ancient home of the Kym family. The root of their name is the personal name Simon, or from Sim, which is a diminutive form of that name. The Gaelic forms of the name are Mac Shim, meaning son of Sim. or Mac Shimidh, meaning son of Simon.

Early Origins of the Kym family

The surname Kym was first found in the Isle of Bute, in western Scotland where they held lands anciently granted by the King of Scotland.

Early History of the Kym family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kym research. Another 210 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1333, 1506, 1529, 1539, 1542, 1550, 1586, 1609, 1641 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Kym History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kym Spelling Variations

Spelling variations were extremely common in medieval names, since scribes from that era recorded names according to sound rather than a standard set of rules. Kym has appeared in various documents spelled M'Shimis, M'Shimmie, M'Kimmie, M'Kim, M'Kym, M'Kymme, M'Shiomoun, M'Kin and many more.

Early Notables of the Kym family

More information is included under the topic Early Kym Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Kym family to Ireland

Some of the Kym family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


West Indies Kym 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. 1
Kym Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • John Kym, aged 23, who arrived in Barbados in 1683 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Kym (post 1700) +

  • Kym Secrist, American cinematographer, known for Man of a Thousand Faces (2008) and Exit 38 (2006)
  • Kym "Kim" Gyngell (b. 1952), Australian Australian Film Institute Award winning comedian and film, television and stage actor, second cousin to David Gyngell
  • Kym Lardner (b. 1957), Australian children's author, illustrator, and storyteller
  • Kym Whitley (b. 1961), American actress and comedienne
  • Kym Koster (b. 1973), former Australian rules footballer


The Kym 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: Je suis prest
Motto Translation: I am ready.


  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  2. 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)


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