Sims Surname Meaning & Origin
What the Sims last name means, where the surname began and where it was first recorded.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Sims coat of arms for you.
Meaning and origin of the Sims last name
Meaning of the Sims last name: son of Sim (Simon). Sims is a patronymic, "son of Sim", from the pet form of Simon or Simeon. Simon was a favourite medieval first name, given in honour of Simon Peter, and Sim was its everyday form. The surname is found from the 13th century in the Midlands and southern England, and Simms is a common spelling. In Scotland, Sim and Simson belong mainly to Aberdeenshire. Many English Sims families settled in Virginia and the Carolinas. The name Simon came into English use with the Normans and was popular because of Simon Peter and Simon the Zealot, two of the apostles. Pet forms such as Sim, Simkin and Simcock produced a range of surnames, including Simkins, Simcox and Simpson. Sims is especially common in the West Midlands and the south of England. In the United States the name is widespread in the South, including Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Sims name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Sims name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Australia and Canada; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Sims family history
The complete Sims pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Sims name FAQ
What does the Sims name mean?
Son of Sim (Simon). Common variants include Simms, Syms, Simpson.
Where does the Sims surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a Sims coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Sims crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Sims coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.