Show ContentsSymons History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

While surnames were well-known during the English medieval period, Cornish People originally used only a single name. The way in which hereditary surnames came into common use is interesting. Under the Feudal System of government, surnames evolved and they often reflected life on the manor and in the field. Patronymic surnames were derived from given names and were the predominant type of surname among the Celtic peoples of Britain. However, the people of Cornwall provide a surprising exception to this rule, and patronymic surnames are less common among them than other people of Celtic stock, such as their Welsh neighbors. This type of surname blended perfectly with the prevailing Feudal System. One feature that is occasionally found in Cornish surnames of this type is the suffix -oe or -ow; this is derived from the Cornish plural suffix -ow. is a patronymic surname that came from the first name of the bearer's father, meaning literally "son of Simon." Alternatively, the name could have "come from the Domesday name Simund, which is distinct from Simon." [1]

Simon was a popular biblical name and comes ultimately from the ancient Hebrew personal name Shimon, meaning "to hearken." [2]

The name appears as a character in Chaucer's Canterbury Tales: 'Awake, Simond, the fend is on me fall.'

Early Origins of the Symons family

The surname Symons was first found in Devon and in Cornwall, where the family held a family seat since ancient times.

The ancient Latin form of the name Simmunddnrus was listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. [3]

Simeon or Symeon of Durham (fl. 1130), was an English historian, a monk of Durham, being thirty-eighth on his own list of the monks of that house. Saint Simeon Stock (1165?-1265), was general of the Carmelite friars and is said to have been born in Kent of noble parents about 1165. "From his earliest years he was devoted to religion, and, according to the legend, owed his surname to the fact that from his twelfth year he lived a hermit's life in the trunk or stock of a tree for twenty years. " [4]

Simeon of Warwick (died 1295), was an English historian who became a Benedictine monk at St. Mary's, York, and in 1258 was elected abbot.

In Scotland, the first records of the family were "Symon, capellanus, [who] witnessed a charter by William Bruce to Adam Carlyle, c. 1194-1214, and Symon or Simon, archidiaconus of Aberdeen, a charter witness, 1172." [5]

Early History of the Symons family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Symons research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1178, 1273, 1379, 1388, 1475, 1487, 1500, 1525, 1528, 1586, 1614, 1617, 1623, 1624, 1640, 1665, 1687, 1692, 1815 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Symons History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Symons Spelling Variations

Cornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Symons, Symonds, Symond, Simmins, Simins, Simmonds, Simonds, Simond, Simmons, Simon, Simmon, Simmen, Symon and many more.

Early Notables of the Symons family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • John Symons, M.P. for Helston in 1388; Thomas Simon (c. 1623-1665), English medalist, born in Yorkshire who studied engraving under Nicholas Briot; Samuel Simmons (1640-1687), an English printer, best...

Symons Ranking

In the United States, the name Symons is the 9,182nd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [6] However, in Australia, the name Symons is ranked the 712nd most popular surname with an estimated 5,518 people with that name. [7]

Ireland Migration of the Symons family to Ireland

Some of the Symons family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 62 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 Symons migration to the United States +

An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name Symons arrived in North America very early:

Symons Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John Symons, who landed in Virginia in 1622 [8]
  • Henry Symons, who settled in Boston in 1630
  • Richard Symons, aged 30, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Assurance" [8]
  • Mr. James Symons, (b. 1615), aged 20, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Constance" arriving in Virginia in 1635 [9]
  • Richard Symons, who landed in Virginia in 1637 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Symons Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Rebecca Symons, who arrived in Virginia in 1701 [8]
  • James Symons, who arrived in Virginia in 1719 [8]
  • Adam Symons, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1786 [8]
Symons Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Symons, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1838 [8]
  • Mr. Paul Symons, (b. 1810), aged 30, English miner departing from England aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" arriving in the United States on 21st April 1840 [10]
  • Mr. Francis Symons, (b. 1820), aged 22, Cornish miner departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Triton" arriving in the United States on 11 May 1842 [10]
  • Mr. Thomas Symons, (b. 1815), aged 27, Cornish miner departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Triton"arriving in the United States on 11 May 1842 [10]
  • M A Symons, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Symons migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Symons Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Charles Symons, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760

Australia Symons migration to Australia +

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

Symons Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Elizabeth Symons, (b. 1781), aged 33, English convict who was convicted in Northumberland, for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [11]
  • Mr. Moses Symons (Symonds), (b. 1794), aged 28 born in Launceston, Cornwall, UK convicted in Cornwall on 5th August 1822, sentenced for 7 years for highway robbery, transported aboard the ship "Albion" in 1823 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia [12]
  • Mr. Moses Symons(b. 1794), aged 28, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 5th August 1822, sentenced for 7 years for highway robbery near Launceston, transported aboard the ship "Albion" on 17th May 1823 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia [13]
  • Moses Symons, English convict from Cornwall, who was transported aboard the "Albion" on May 17, 1823, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia [14]
  • Mr. Thomas Symons(b. 1790), aged 36, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 20th March 1826, sentenced for 14 years for housebreaking in the dwelling-house of Pascoe Stephens, transported aboard the ship "Layton" on 13th June 1827 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia [13]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Symons 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:

Symons Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Charles Henry Symons, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • James Symons, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • John Symons, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • John Symons, aged 32, a mason, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • Mary Symons, aged 30, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Symons (post 1700) +

  • George Gardner Symons (1861-1930), American impressionist painter
  • Donald Symons (b. 1942), American anthropologist
  • Kevin Symons (b. 1971), American actor
  • Brian James "B. J." Symons (b. 1980), American football quarterback
  • Jelinger Cookson Symons (1809-1860), English miscellaneous writer, born at West Ilsley, Berkshire, son of Jelinger Symons, vicar of Monkland, Herefordshire
  • George Symons (1826-1871), English recipient of the Victoria Cross
  • Alphonse James Albert Symons (1900-1941), English writer and bibliographer
  • Mitchell Symons (b. 1957), English Journalist/Writer
  • Thomas Henry Bull Symons CC OOnt FRSC (1929-2021), Canadian professor and author in the field of Canadian studies, President and vice-chancellor of Trent University (1961-1972)
  • Jack Symons (b. 1912), Australian rules footballer
  • ... (Another 18 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Reginald Symons, British Engine Room Artificer 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking [15]
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Jack Symons, British Chief Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking [16]
  • Mr. William Thomas Symons, British Leading Cook, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking, also sailed aboard the HMS Exeter [16]
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. George Thomas Macdonald Symons, aged 24, English Lookout from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on life boat 1 [17]


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  3. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  4. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  5. 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)
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  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. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  10. 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
  11. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/broxbournebury
  12. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/tasmanian_convicts_cornish.pdf
  13. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  14. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Albion voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1823 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/albion/1823
  15. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  16. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  17. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html


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