Surname Syms - Meaning and Origin
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Syms: What does the surname Syms mean?
The surname Syms is of English origin and likely has multiple possible derivations. One is that it may have its roots in the personal name "Simon," deriving as a patronymic form — "Sim's" or "the son of Sim," with "Sim" being a common short form of Simon.
Another possible origin is from the Welsh word "siam," meaning "summer," it could also be a nickname for a "summer" child or someone with a sunny disposition. However, it is vital to note that surnames evolved over centuries and often as per different local languages and dialects. Therefore, tracing the exact meaning is often a complicated task.
The surname Syms is scattered across the globe, with a significant presence in England, the United States, Australia, and Canada. Famous people with the surname include British actress Sylvia Syms and the founder of Syms Corp, Sy Syms.
Order DNA origin analysisSyms: Where does the name Syms come from?
The last name Syms is predominantly a British surname, primarily found in South East England. The family name is believed to have originated in either Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire or Berkshire. While Syms is not a particularly common name in England today, the surname does remain popular in certain areas. The largest concentration of people with the last name Syms are found around Hampshire, including the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth.
The last name is also is found in relatively high numbers throughout Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand. It is believed that people with the last name Syms were among the first migrants to arrive in Australia and South Africa in the mid to late 1800's. Similarly, Syms are present in regions across Canada, the United States of America, and in the Caribbean.
Going further back, the Syms family originated in the British Isles, with a significant presence especially in the south of England. A notable individual with the Syms surname is William Syms, a British politician who served as a Member of Parliament for the city of Rochester between 1802 and 1812. His direct descendants, including his grandchildren, carried on the Syms surname.
Ultimately, the surname Syms is still common today, especially in areas where British immigrants had settled in the past. It is likely that the people who retained the last name Syms are mostly descended from the original British Syms families, who had likely taken on the surname in the early 1700s.
Variations of the surname Syms
The surname Syms is an anglicisation of the Celtic name Mac Sim that originated in Scotland and Ireland. Variations, spellings and surnames of the same origin include Sim, Symes, Sims, Symeson, Symmington, Simaday, Symms, Simons, Symcox, Simeson, Syminsky, Symmonds, Simco, Simoson, and Symemson.
The Sim spelling is the most commonly used variant in Scotland and Ireland. It is derived from the Gaelic name Mac Sim, and is believed to mean ‘son of Simon’. This variant was often used to denote the descendants of the Irish chieftain, Simon Macmurphy, who was the chief of the territory in County Laois during the medieval era.
The Symes variant is the most popular in England, and is likely derived from the Middle English term ‘simese’, which means equality. The surname Symes is believed to have been given to those who sought to promote equality among the population of England.
The Symmonds variation is a variant of the original name Sima Cormac. The name is believed to be Norman in origin and means 'son of Cormac'. Cormac was the early Irish king and ancestor of many clans, including the Symmonds.
The Simons variation was derived from the Norman name Simon, and is believed to mean 'Son of Sim'. This variant was commonly given to those who were descended from French Norman immigrants who settled in England in the 12th and 13th centuries.
The Symcox variation is seemingly derived from the Old Norse personal name Symon, which meant 'Heard by Angels'. This variant was likely given to those who were descendants of Scandinavian settlers in the British Isles.
Symeson, Simeday, and Simco are derived from the old Anglo-Saxon name Symaes, which likely meant 'Friend of the Sea'. This dialect of the original name was likely given to those who lived by the coast or had some form of seafaring career.
Famous people with the name Syms
- Richard Syms: British Conservative politician, MP for Poole.
- La Rhonda Syms: American opera singer and associate professor of voice at the Catholic University of America.
- S. Syms Covington: British astronomer who assisted major league astronomer Sir John Herschel in Cape Town.
- Delvina Syms: actress who was the “Black Marilyn Monroe” for decades and was the first African-American woman to star in a sound motion picture.
- Frazer Syms: award-winning documentary filmmaker and film editor whose work has appeared on Discovery Channel, National Geographic and BBC.
- Martin Syms: Australian television producer and executive producer of the popular forensic crime show Mystery for Seven.
- Ephraim Syms: American merchant, philanthropist and member of the Continental Congress who was instrumental in the construction of the first synagogue in New York City.
- Anica Syms: influencer and fashion designer who operates her own fashion boutique in Los Angeles.
- Belinda Syms: British composer and leader of jazz band Transient Trumpet Company.
- Elis Syms: Swedish artist, activist and model who co-founded the charity PROTECTE and is focused on raising awareness of current social issues.