Sympsone History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Sympsone is an ancient Anglo-Saxon name that is derived from the baptismal name Simon, which was originally derived from the Hebrew word Shimeon meaning obedience. In the religious naming tradition surnames were bestowed in honor of religious figures or church officials. In Europe, the Christian Church was one of the most powerful influences on the formation of given names. Personal names derived from the names of saints, apostles, biblical figures, and missionaries are widespread in most European countries. In the Middle Ages, they became increasingly popular because people believed that the souls of the deceased continued to be involved in this world. They named their children after saints in the hope that the child would be blessed or protected by the saint.

Early Origins of the Sympsone family

The surname Sympsone was first found in Buckinghamshire where Simpson was listed in the Domesday Book as Sevinstone or Siwinestone, lands held by the Bishop of Countances. 1

The place literally meant "farmstead of a man called Sigewine" derived from the Old Scandinavian personal name + tun. 2

At that time, the land consisted of 8 hides (each hide would support one household), 3 virgates (three quarters of a hide) and land enough to support 8 ploughs. There were 13 villans (peasants), 2 bordars and 6 slaves 1.

Today Simpson is a village and civil parish in Milton Keynes and had a population of 585 people in the late 1800s. Another source has a different understanding of the name's origin. "The Simpsons of Knaresborough trace their lineage from the time of Edward the Confessor, and from Archill, a Saxon thane, living in that reign of the Conqueror. Among his vast possessions was the manor of Clint in Yorkshire. The name of Simpson was adopted from Symon, son of William de Clynt who was living in the year 1300. " 3

The name is "characteristic of the northern half of England. Yorkshire is its great home, it being very numerous in the North and East Ridings. In the surrounding counties of Durham, Lancashire, Cheshire, Stafford, and Derby, it is also well represented. Though it has established itself in some measure in Suffolk and Essex, it is with these exceptions eminently a name of the northern counties and northern midlands. It is represented over a large part of Scotland, but is rare in the north." 4

In Staffordshire, Richard Symmeson was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1353. A few years later, Adam Symson was found in Whitby, Yorkshire in 1395, as was John Simpson in 1397. John Symson or Sympson was registered in Lincolnshire in 1487. 5

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Johannes Symson; Johannes Symmeson; and Johannes Symnson. 6

Early History of the Sympsone family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sympsone research. Another 171 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1050, 1405, 1500, 1578, 1599, 1600, 1602, 1611, 1618, 1620, 1627, 1642, 1651, 1655, 1656, 1657, 1669, 1671 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Sympsone History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sympsone Spelling Variations

Sympsone has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Sympsone have been found, including Simpson, Simson, Simsoun, Symson, Symsoun and many more.

Early Notables of the Sympsone family

Distinguished members of the family include Edward Simpson or Simson (1578-1651), English divine, son of Edward Simpson, rector of Tottenham, was born at Tottenham on 9 May 1578. In 1611 he became chaplain to Sir Moyle Finch of Eastwell in Kent, and remained there till the death of his patron four years later. In 1618, by the interest of Viscountess Maidstone, widow of Sir Moyle Finch, he was presented to the rectory of Eastling in Kent, and in the same year received the degree of D.D. 7 Nathaniel Simpson (1599-1642), was an early English mathematician, born at Skipton in Yorkshire in 1599...
Another 190 words (14 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sympsone Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sympsone family to Ireland

Some of the Sympsone family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sympsone family

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Sympsones to arrive on North American shores: Henry Simpson who settled in Maine in 1635; John and Joe Simpson settled in Boston in 1635; Robert Simpson settled in Maryland in 1633; another Robert Simpson settled in Salem in 1630.

The Sympsone 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: Nil desperandum
Motto Translation: Never despairing.

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print