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Origins of the Simpson surname

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What does the name Simpson mean?

Simpson is a patronymic surname with English and Scottish roots, where it has been found as early as the 1300s. Simpson derives from someone being the son or descendant of a person called Simon, of which the diminutive or pet name is Sim or Simme. The surname was popular as a given name in medieval England and Scotland and has arisen throughout Britain independently, with no single 'Simpson family' that individuals can claim descent from.

Alternative variations of the name Simpson

Simpson, Simson, Symson, Sympson, Symsoun, Sampson, Sampsons

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I’ve managed to trace back to the mid-1500s! I can’t believe it! Utterly engrossing and I have uncovered some quite moving and heartbreaking stories attached to various ancestors. You don’t need any qualifications to start - just time patience, and some information.

SS
Stuart
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Where do most Simpsons live?

In 1921, most Simpsons lived in London.


Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

Interesting facts about Simpsons

How common is your surname?

58th most common surname in the UK

We have 496,000 records for the Simpson surname. The oldest one dates back to 1264.

Who were Simpsons most likely to marry?

Smiths

&

Browns

Our Marriage record sets tell us which families married Simpsons.

What are the most common Simpson first names?

  • John
  • William
  • Mary
  • Elizabeth

Our birth record sets tell us the names of Simpson family members

Common jobs for Simpsons

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common Female occupations for Simpsons in 1921
Dressmaker

2,240

Domestic Servant

1,441

Cotton Weaver

1,135

Housekeeper

986

Living On Own Means

965

Common Male occupations for Simpsons in 1921
Coal Miner

3,066

Farmer

1,853

General Labourer

1,551

Agricultural Labourer

1,457

Joiner

1,413

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Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

We found over 330,000 family trees with the Simpson surname

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