Surname Simkins - Meaning and Origin
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Simkins: What does the surname Simkins mean?
The surname Simkins is an Anglicized form of the Old French name Simkin, which originated from the personal name Sim. Sim is thought to be derived from either Old English elements sige ("victory") and wine ("friend"), or Scandinavian elements sigr ("victory") and munn ("protector").
Simkins is known to have appeared commonly in records during the Middle Ages in the area of Cheshire, England. The earliest known record of the surname dates back to 1240 AD, when one William Symonkyns is listed in the Cheshire Subsidy Rolls.
Throughout the centuries, the last name Simkins has been used as a patronymic, which means the surname was derived from the personal name of the father. In some cases, the name has also been used as a locational surname. This was used to describe those who lived in a certain area or had migrated from a specific place.
In the modern world, the Simkins surname continues to spread around the globe. Those with the surname Simkins are a diverse group, generally thought of as industrious, loyal, and hardworking. They are often involved in many community activities and charitable volunteering. Aptly, the motto of the Simkins family is “Semper Fidelis” ("Always Faithful"), which is a reflection of the pride, loyalty, and sense of belonging Simkins' feel to their family and country.
Order DNA origin analysisSimkins: Where does the name Simkins come from?
The last name Simkins is most common in the United States today, particularly in the states of Texas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. Within the US, it is especially prevalent among African Americans.
The surname Simkins originated from a place of origin with the same name and is believed to have its origins in the 13th century. It is an Anglo-Saxon name and is thought to mean “son of Sim” or “son of Simon” which deriverd from the name “Simon”, which itself derived its roots in the Hebrew language and meant “he has heard”.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the most recent census from 2020 revealed that the Simkins family is the 268th most common name in the US. Furthermore, when broken down by state, Texas has the highest concentration of individuals with the last name Simkins, followed closely by New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Throughout history, many people with the surname Simkins have contributed to building the modern world as we know it today in many different manners. From significant advances in technology to pioneering African American civil rights activism, to even more modern day meteoric successes in business and entertainment.
The Simkins surname can proudly be traced back to a long, proud, and influential history of devotion to progress and accomplishment in many different areas. With its current prevalence in the United States, many individuals who bear the name continue to live amazing lives following in the footsteps of their predecessors.
Variations of the surname Simkins
The surname Simkins is derived from a nickname given to a person whose physical appearance resembled that of a Simon, or they simply went by the name of Simon. Simkins is a patronymic surname, which means it is derived from the name of the father, in this case, Simon. Variants, spellings, and alternate surnames of Simkins include Symkins, Simpkins, Semkins, Simkins, Simkyns, Simkinson, and Symkinson.
The use of Simkins as a surname most likely began in the British Isles. During medieval times, there was a large amount of migration and migrations brought the Simkins name and other variants to different parts of Europe, later to the Americas, and to other parts of the world.
It is not known exactly when or where the Simkins name started being used as a surname. In England, one of the earliest documented records of the Simkins surname was a 1221 pre-conquest record in Norfolk County, England.
In Scotland, the current people with the Simkins name can trace their ancestry back to the 14th century when the Simkins family lived near Stirling Castle in Stirlingshire, Scotland. Simkins has also been found in records from Ireland, Wales, the Isle of Man, and Canada.
Today, there are people who have the Simkins surname living all over the world. In the United States, Simkins coastal families can be traced as far back to the 1600s when some settled in New England, and other family members settled in areas like Pennsylvania and Maryland. Some Simkins families remained in the British Isles, and there are many present-day Simkins living in locations such as England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name Simkins
- Marshall Simkins: Marshall Simkins is a sports journalist and content creator from Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He is best known for his work covering the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League.
- Craig Simkins: Craig Simkins is an English former professional footballer. He was a midfielder for teams such as Wealdstone, Cardiff City, Reading, and Aldershot Town.
- Sam Simkins: Sam Simkins is an American actor who has appeared in several films and television series, most notably The Space Between Us and Liv and Maddie.
- Sarah Simkins: Sarah Simkins is a British writer and television presenter. She has written for shows like BBC Three's Shaun of the Dead, Heatstroke, and more recently, the BAFTA-winning online series Home and Away.
- Freddie Simkins: Freddie Simkins is a British professional freestyle skier. He competed and won multiple medals in the X Games and World Ski Tour Championships.
- Robert Simkins: Robert Simkins is an American professional basketball player who has played in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and in several professional leagues overseas.
- Tim Simkins: Tim Simkins is an Irish businessman and entrepreneur. He was the chief executive officer of the CityJet airline and is currently managing director of the Scandinavian-Irish investment firm SimCorp Investments.
- Andrew Simkins: Andrew Simkins is an Australian actor who is best known for his roles in the television series Neighbours and So Long, Farewell, Amen.
- Andi Simkins: Andi Simkins is an American singer and songwriter who has had a successful career as a solo artist and in the music industry.
- William Simkins: William Simkins was an American writer and illustrator best known for his works in the fields of science fiction and fantasy. He was nominated for the Hugo Award in 1984 and won the Nebula Award in 1985.