Surname Sime - Meaning and Origin
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Sime: What does the surname Sime mean?
The last name Sime is of Scottish origin. It is an Anglicization of the Gaelic name MacShimidh, which translates to "son of Shimidh". Shimidh is a Gaelic name that is derived from the ancient Celtic personal name "Simmias", which in turn can be traced back to the Gaulish god "Semo Sancus".
The Sime family were descendants of the Celts who descended from Ireland in the late 1500s and settled in the highlands of Scotland. They developed their own branch of the clan in Renfrewshire, near Glasgow, and the family is thought to have originated there.
The Sime family is associated with several locations in Scotland. In the 1700s, the family moved to Kelso and Hawick in the Scottish borders. A branch of the family can also be found established in Argyll, near Loch Awe and Loch Linnhe.
The meaning of the surname Sime is "wise" or "good judgement". It is believed to be a reference to strength of mind and good judgement in the decisions made by the family ancestors. This wisdom must have served them well in navigating the politics and challenging environments of their new lives in Scotland.
Order DNA origin analysisSime: Where does the name Sime come from?
The last name Sime is most common in the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland. According to the Scottish Surnames website, Sime is the 24th most common surname in the UK, with around 17,000 people bearing the name, and 18th most common in Scotland. The highest concentrations of Sime surnames are in the counties of Aberdeenshire, Angus, and Edinburgh.
Sime is an occupational name which originates from the Olde English and Scottish Gaelic word "sim" or "simme" which means sieve or sifter. The surname originates from people who would have used sieves to separate out different substances or prepare materials such as grain.
Outside of the UK, Sime is much less common. The United States government's Census Bureau records indicate that as of 2018, only 982 people living in the United States have the last name Sime. This was largely driven by Scottish immigration to the US, with pockets of Simes (as well as variants such as Simms and Sims) particularly prominent in South Carolina.
Sime can also occasionally be found in France, where it is mainly held by people of professional or aristocratic background, descended from an immigrant bearing the name. Similarly, in Germany the name is mainly found as a result of immigration from Scotland, with a few families holding the name.
Overall, the last name Sime is today most prevalent in the UK, with a particularly prominent presence in Scotland. It is also found in small numbers in France, Germany, and the United States, largely as a result of Scottish immigration.
Variations of the surname Sime
The surname Sime is an English, Scottish, or Irish last name derived from the Old French secretion of Simon. It is an occupational surname, which indicates that the original bearer of the surname may have been a man of Christian faith. Variants of Sime include Symes, Symmes, Simme, and Simmes.
In Scotland, Sime has traditionally been found in Caithness and Sutherland. The earliest recorded occurrence of this surname were those of Alexander Syme in the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland in the year 1607.
In English records, the first recorded spelling of the surname was included in the Curia Regis Rolls of London in the year 1226. Robert Syme was recorded as a "pledge" in the parish of St.Nicholas, Shoreditch in the year 1356.
In Ireland, the Irish version of the surname or seim--is derived from the Gaelic name, O'Siadhail, which was the chief of a sept located in Connaught province. In 1642, Thomas Sime was recorded in County Kilkenny.
In the United States, many aforementioned spellings of the Sime surname have been found. For example, Simme was the sixth most common mutation in the 1850 federal census, and Syme was the 352nd most common surname in the 1990 US Census.
Variations of the Sime surname and their spellings can also be found in Wales, where the variant Simes was a common surname.
Overall, the variants and spellings of the Sime surname have had a number of geographical locations with a long history.
Famous people with the name Sime
- Radek Šíma: Czech former professional ice hockey player.
- Milan Šíma: Czech former soldier and a soldier of the resistance during World War II.
- Ann Sima: American artist, filmmaker, and activist.
- Alexander Sime: Scottish engineer who held the position of Regius Professor of Engineering (1827-1842) at the University of Glasgow and was the founder of the Sime medal.
- Mohammad Sime: Afghan politician who was appointed the Governor of Parwan province in November 2013.
- Gaynelle Sime: American gospel singer and performer.
- Erlend Sime: Australian singer-songwriter.
- John Sime: Scottish footballer who played for Heart of Midlothian between 1895 and 1903.
- Ignatius Simeonko: former Ugandan football goalkeeper and coach.
- Dennis Sime: British paediatrician and neurologist.