Simm

This interesting surname, of early medieval English origin, derives from the male given name Sim(me), itself a short form of Simon, from the Hebrew personal name "Shimeon", one who harkens. In English versions of the Old Testament, the name appears both as "Shimeon" and "Simeon", but in the New Testament generally takes the form Simon, partly as a result of association with the pre-existing Greek byname "Simon", from "simos", snub-nosed. The first recording of Simon in England is in the 1134 Records of St. Benet of Holme, Norfolk. Early examples of the surname include: Robert Simeon (Huntingdonshire, 1254), John Simon (Sussex, 1296), and Thomas Symme (Yorkshire, 1379). John Sym de Banchry was noted in the Register of Cambuskenneth Monastery, Scotland, in 1503, and in 1633, one Henry Sim was constable in the parish of Auchtermuchtie. In the modern idiom the name is spelt Sim, Simm, Sime and Syme, the first mentioned form being most widespread in Northumberland and Lancashire. On November 10th 1628, John Simm and Jane Smith were married at All Saints, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ralph Simme, which was dated 1317, witness in the "Assize Court Rolls of Kent", during the reign of King Edward 11, known as "Edward of Caernafon", 1307 - 1327. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.