Surname Symmes - Meaning and Origin
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Symmes: What does the surname Symmes mean?
The surname Symmes is of early medieval English origin. It is a patronymic form of the medieval given name Sim(me), derived from the Biblical name Simon. The typical English form of the name Sim(me) is Sym(es), Sim(m)s, with the suffix "-s" indicating "son of." Therefore, Symmes essentially means "son of Sim(me) or Simon." The name Simon comes from the Hebrew name "Shim'on" which means "hearkening or listening." This surname, over time and due to regional dialects and accents, has several variations including Symms, Simms, Symes, Sym, Sim, Sime, Sims, among others.
It evolved into a surname during a period when the transition from the fading of the patronymic naming system to fixed hereditary surnames took place. The surname is quite common in England and later spread to other parts of the UK and overseas due to migration, particularly in the United States, Australia, and Canada. Notable people with the Symmes surname include Captain John Cleves Symmes Jr., known for his Hollow Earth theory in the early 19th century.
Order DNA origin analysisSymmes: Where does the name Symmes come from?
The last name Symmes is an English surname that is still in use today throughout the United States and Britain. In the United States, the surname has its greatest presence in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and California. This is likely due to the fact that the first Symmes to come to the United States, John Cleves Symmes, was an American Revolutionary War veteran who arrived in Ohio in 1788.
In England, the surname has a long pedigree and is scattered throughout the country, having been adopted by people from many counties and regions. This is unsurprising since England was the nation of origin for the surname. The earliest records of the name in the country appeared in the counties of Norfolk and Devon during the Middle Ages, adding to the long-standing presence of the name.
Today, the name is of modest frequency in the United States, with 0.032% of individuals having Symmes as a surname. This amounts to approximately 35,000 individuals in the US today. In England, the name is present, albeit far less frequent than other parts of the UK, and similarly there are 0.007% of individuals with Symmes as their surname. This equates to around 6000 people in England sharing the same last name.
Variations of the surname Symmes
Symmes is a surname that is believed to have Anglo-Norman origins with a few different spellings, variants, and derivatives stemming from it. The most common variant and spelling of the name is “Symms”, a spelling that was widely used in the 19th century in England as well as in America. Another variant of the name is “Sims”, which is often found in Scotland and Ireland.
A less common spelling and variant of Symmes is “Syms”, which is pronounced the same as DecemberSims but without the s at the end.
Other variants and derivative surnames of Symmes include “Symes”, “Simms”, “Sympson”, “Symons”, “Simpson”, “Symmin”, “Symonds”, and “Symington”.
Symmes is a relatively rare surname, but it can still be found in many parts of the world today, especially in England, Scotland, Ireland, and the United States. Interestingly, there is also at least one village in England that bears the name Symmes, as well as a few other locations in the United States by the same name.
Famous people with the name Symmes
- Zachary Symmes: American media entrepreneur.
- John Cleves Symmes Jr.: American representative to the U.S. Congress who proposed an expedition to find an entrance to the interior of the earth through the North Pole.
- James Symmes: American judge and politician notable for being the principal founder of the City of North Bend, Ohio.
- William Symmes: Anglican priest and songwriter of hymns.
- John Cleves Symmes: Presbyterian minister and Revolutionary War leader who settled in Ohio.
- Warren Symmes: major in the Connecticut Militia during the American Revolution and later appointed judge.
- Charlotte Symmes: daughter of John Cleves Symmes, influential in the carnation industry in the U.S.
- William R. Symmes: United States Army major general who served in World War I and World War II.
- Chauncey Symmes: American educator, writer, and poet.
- Samuel Symmes: Founder of the town of Sherborn, Massachusetts.