Contents [hide]

Sim History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Sim History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

Etymology of Sim

What does the name Sim mean?

In the Scottish/English Borderlands of the medieval era, Sim was first used as a surname. It was derived from the Medieval given name Sim which was derived from Simon, but denoted son of Simon. 1

Early Origins of the Sim family

The surname Sim was first found in East Lothian, where the name is a diminutive of Symon and Simeon.

In "Symmie and his Bruder," a satire in the vein of Peblis to the play, we have mention of "Bayth Sym and his bruder," and "Nowthir Syme nor his bruder." 2

Moreover, "Sim is not always representative of Clan Moc-Shimidh as some think-it is a common English name as well." 2

Early records of the name in Scotland include: "Sym Clerk [who] witnessed an instrument of resignation in 1446, John Sym de Banchry, recorded in 1503, Andrew Sym, vicar of Cumry (Comrie) in 1530 and William Sym [who] witnessed a precept of clare constat of 1548. William Sym in Nether Possill is recorded in 1596." 2

At about this time, we also found records in England, specifically Thomas Symme, listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. Christopher Sims, Berkshire appears in the Register of the University of Oxford in 1504; and Ellen Simms, of Warrington is listed in the Wills of Chester in 1593. 1

Early History of the Sim family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sim research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1162, 1503, 1530, 1596, 1753, 1755, 1774, 1787, 1791, 1793, 1794, 1795, 1799, 1800, 1808, 1809, 1831, 1843, 1845, 1859, 1861, 1866, 1867, 1870, 1889 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Sim History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sim Spelling Variations

Scribes in the Middle Ages simply spelled according to sound. The result is an enormous number of spelling variations among names that evolved in that era. Sim has been spelled Simms, Symes, Sime, Simes, Sim, Sym, Syms, Syme and others.

Early Notables of the Sim family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

James Sime, the critic and journalist was born 31 Oct. 1843 and was eldest son of Rev. James Sime of Airdrie, and afterwards of Wick and Thurso, Caithness-shireand of Jane Anderson of Glasgow (d. 28 J...

Sim World Ranking

In the United States, the name Sim is the 7,126^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 3 However, in Australia, the name Sim is ranked the 988^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,021 people with that name. 4 And in New Zealand, the name Sim is the 547^th popular surname with an estimated 1,286 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Sim family to Ireland

Some of the Sim family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sim migration to the United States +

Most of the Boernician-Scottish families who came to North America settled on the eastern seaboard of what would become the United States and Canada. Families who wanted a new order stayed south in the War of Independence, while those who were still loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, the ancestors of these families have gone on to rediscover their heritage through Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Sim or a variant listed above:

Sim Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Alexander Sim, who landed in Maryland in 1674 6

Sim Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Geo Christ Sim, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 6
Jane Sim, aged 24, who arrived in North Carolina in 1774 6
John Sim, aged 16, who landed in New York in 1774 6

Sim Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

George Sim, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1845 6

Sim migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sim Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Robert Sim, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1773

Sim Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Thomas Sim, who landed in Canada in 1830
William Sim, who arrived in Canada in 1830
Peter, Sim Jr., who landed in Canada in 1830

Sim migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Sim Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Richard Sim, (b. 1830), aged 19, Cornish farm labourer from Truro, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Sarah" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 10th December 1849 7
James Sim, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Reliance" 8
Ellen Sim, aged 26, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Oregon" 9
Jane Sim, aged 31, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1851 aboard the ship "Oregon" 9
Charles Sim, aged 39, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "John Bunyan" 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sim migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Sim Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Alexander Sim, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Jura" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd September 1858 11
Mrs. Sim, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow with children aboard the ship "Jura" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd September 1858 11
Mr. Thomas Sim, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 27th April 1860 12
Mrs. Sim, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 27th April 1860 12
Mr. Sim, Jr., Scottish settler born aboard the ship "Storm Cloud" arriving in Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 27th April 1860 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Sim (post 1700) +

Alastair Sim CBE (1900-1976), Scottish actor, best remembered in the role of Ebenezer Scrooge in the 1951 film Scrooge
Mr. James Brown Sim, British sheriff, held the position of Sheriff of Nottingham, England from 1900 to 1901
Cornelius Sim (1951-2021), prelate of the Catholic Church who served as Apostolic Vicar of Brunei from 2004 until his death
karl Feoder "CF Goldie" Sim (b. 1923), New Zealand art forger
Sheila Sim (b. 1922), Baroness Attenborough, English film and theatre actress, wife of actor and director Richard Attenborough
Thomas Robertson Sim (1858-1938), South African botanist
Jon Sim (b. 1977), Canadian NHL ice hockey player
Dave Sim (b. 1956), Canadian comic book author
Bird Sim Coler (1867-1941), American politician, the first Comptroller of Greater New York (1897-1901)
Milton Sim Newbury Jr. (1940-2002), American musician and composer

Historic Events for the Sim family +

HMS Hood

Mr. Alexander E Sim (b. 1915), Scottish Sick Berth Attendant serving for the Royal Navy from Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 13

Vimy Ridge

Peter Stewart Sim (1895-1917), Canadian photographer, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge May 1917

The Sim 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: Fortuna et labore
Motto Translation: By fortune and labor.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) RELIANCE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Reliance.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The barque OREGON, 521 tons - 1851 voyage to South Australia. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Oregon.htm
South Australian Register Wednesday 24th May 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) John Bunyan 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/johnbunyan1854.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm