Show ContentsSimmons History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Simmons Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Simmons

What does the name Simmons mean?

Jewish surnames generally have large numbers of spelling variations because they were influenced by the different languages of the countries in which the bearers lived. The surname Simmons is derived from the Hebrew forename of Shimn, which may be derived from the word 'shamà,' which means to hearken.

Simmons Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Simon, Simmons, Simons and others. and others.

Simmons World Ranking

the United States, the name Simmons is the 92nd most popular surname with an estimated 226,317 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name Simmons is ranked the 676th most popular surname with an estimated 7,720 people with that name. 2 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Simmons is the 433rd popular surname with an estimated 108 people with that name. 3 Australia ranks Simmons as 363rd with 9,978 people. 4 New Zealand ranks Simmons as 453rd with 1,525 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Simmons as 321st with 19,184 people. 6

Simmons migration to the United States +



Simmons Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Moses Simmons, who arrived in Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1621 8
  • Abram Simmons, who arrived in Maryland in 1634
  • Oliver Simmons, who landed in Virginia in 1638 8
  • Thomas Simmons, who arrived in Maryland in 1639 8
  • Robert Simmons, who arrived in Maryland in 1662 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Simmons Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Balthazer Simmons, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1750 8
  • Catherin Simmons, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1792 8
  • Frederick Simmons, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1792 8
  • Peter Simmons, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1792 8
  • Ludwig Simmons, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1792 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Simmons Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Simmons, who landed in America in 1806 8
  • James L Simmons, aged 27, who arrived in Connecticut in 1812 8
  • William Simmons, who landed in New York, NY in 1817 8
  • Francis Simmons, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1825 8
  • Mr. R. Simmons, (b. 1807), aged 34, Cornish settler departing from Falmouth aboard the ship "Cornwall" arriving in the United States on 3 June 1841 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Simmons migration to Canada +

Simmons Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • William Simmons, who arrived in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1778
  • Ms. Esther Simmons U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 107 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 20, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 10
  • Lieut. Henry Simmons U.E. (b. 1740) born in Teerbosch, New York, USA who settled in Ernest Town [Ernestown], Lennox & Addington, Ontario c. 1784 he served in Jessup's Corps as well as Loyal Rangers, married to Anna Margaretha Bonenstiehl having 7 children 10
  • Mr. James Simmons U.E. who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 10
  • Mr. John Simmons U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Simmons Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Edward Simmons, aged 20, who arrived in Canada in 1815
  • Mary Simmons, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1830
  • Stephen Simmons, who landed in Canada in 1836
  • Isaac Simmons, who landed in Canada in 1841

Simmons migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet and Second Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Mr. John Simmons, British settler convicted at Hampshire, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for perjury, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 7
Second Fleet
  • Mr. Thomas Simmons, (Edward Thorowgood, Thoroughgood), (d. 1793), British settler convicted in Essex, England in 1787, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Admiral Barrington" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 8
  • Mr. John Simmons, British settler convicted in Lancashire, England in 1788, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Atlantic" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 8
Following the First and Second Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Simmons Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Robert Simmons, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Simmons Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Simmons 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:

Simmons Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Weston Simmons, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1842
  • Miss Fanny Simmons, (b. 1825), aged 28, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Egmont" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 23rd December 1853 16
  • Miss Margaret Simmons, (b. 1842), aged 14, British general servant travelling from London aboard the ship "Isabella Hercus" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th January 1856 16
  • Charles Simmons, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ann Wilson" in 1857
  • Ann Simmons, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Ann Wilson" in 1857
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Simmons 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. 17
Simmons Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Flurance Simmons, a servant sent to Barbados in 1662

Contemporary Notables of the name Simmons (post 1700) +

  • Gene Simmons (b. 1949), born Chaim Weitz, American musician and television celebrity, co-founder of the supergroup, KISS, known for Gene Simmons: Family Jewels (2006), The Decline of Western Civilization Part II: The Metal Years (1988) and Rush: Beyond the Lighted Stage (2010)
  • Roberta Grodberg Simmons (1937-1993), American sociologist, a 1979 Guggenheim Fellow, she studied the psychology of adolescence and later organ transplants and authored the books Black and White Self-Esteem (1972), Gift of Life (1977), and Moving Into Adolescence (1987)
  • Jerry Bernard Simmons (1942-2024), American NFL football wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the New Orleans Saints, the Atlanta Falcons, the Chicago Bears, and the Denver Broncos
  • Milton Teagle "Richard" Simmons (1948-2024), American fitness personality and promoter of weight-loss programs, most prominently through his Sweatin' to the Oldies line of aerobics videos
  • Jeffery Bernard Simmons Jr. (b. 1997), American football defensive end for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League
  • Jerry Simmons (1946-2023), American tennis coach, inducted into the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Hall of Fame in 1998
  • Curtis Thomas Simmons (1929-2022), American Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher, who played from 1947 to 1950 and 1952 to 1967, a three-time MLB All-Star
  • Louie Simmons (1947-2022), American powerlifter and strength coach; he developed the Westside Conjugate method of training and applying it to powerlifting and other sports
  • Norman Simmons (1929-2021), American arranger, composer, educator, and pianist who worked with Helen Humes, Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan, Anita O'Day, and Joe Williams
  • ... (Another 153 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mr. Stephen George Simmons (1959-1979), New Zealander Flight Steward, from Auckland, New Zealand working aboard the Air New Zealand sightseeing Flight 901 when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 18
  • Mr. George Henry Simmons (1958-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Wilmington, North Carolina, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 19
  • Mr. Carl Nelson Simmons (1965-1985), American Specialist 4th Class from Banks, Alabama, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 20
  • Mrs. Mary  Simmons (1894-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 20
  • Mrs. Mary  Simmons (1896-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
  • ... (Another 5 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. 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)
  4. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  5. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  6. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  7. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  8. 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)
  9. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  10. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  12. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
  16. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  18. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  19. American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
  20. 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

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