| ![Show Contents]() Sym History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of SymWhat does the name Sym mean? Sym comes from Scottish naming traditions, whose ancestors lived among the Boernicians of the Scottish/English Borderlands. It is derived from the Medieval given name Sim which was derived from Simon, but denoted son of Simon. 1 Early Origins of the Sym familyThe surname Sym 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 Sym familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sym 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 Sym History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Sym Spelling VariationsOver the years, Sym has been written It appears under these variations because medieval scribes spelled names according to sound rather than by any over-arching set of rules. Simms, Symes, Sime, Simes, Sim, Sym, Syms, Syme and others. Early Notables of the Sym familyNotable amongst the family name during their early history was - John Syme (1755-1831), nicknamed "Stamp-Office Johnny," a close friend of Robert Burns'. In the summers of 1793 and 1794, he joined Burns on his two short tours of Galloway. He and Alexander Cunningha...
- Michael Symes (1753?-1809), was a British soldier and diplomatist, born about 1753, entered the army about 1787, and went to India in the following year with the newly raised 76th (now 2nd battalion W...
- Patrick Syme (1774-1845) was a Scottish flower-painter, born in Edinburgh. He occasionally practised portraiture, but is best known as a flower-painter, and in the early Scottish exhibitions, which be...
- James Syme (1799-1870), the Scottish surgeon, second son of John Syme of Cartmore and Lochore in Fifeshire, was born in Edinburgh on 7 Nov. 1799. He received his chief education at the high school, Ed...
Migration of the Sym family to IrelandSome of the Sym 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.
| Sym migration to the United States | + |
When these Boernician-Scottish settlers arrived in North America they brought little with them and often had restart their lives from scratch. Through time, much of their heritage was lost, and it is only this century through Clan societies and highland games that many have recovered their national heritage. Research into various historical records has revealed some of first members of the Sym family to immigrate North America:
Sym Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Fra Sym, who arrived in Virginia in 1651 3
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.
- 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)
- 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)
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