Find out how popular the last name Sim is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Sim.

Sim, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Sim surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sim in America

Sim is the 5732nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sim surname appeared 6,047 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Sim.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sim to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Sim

The surname Sim has its origins in Scotland, emerging around the 12th century. It is derived from the Old English word "sim," which means "flat or level ground." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived on or near a flat or level area of land.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Sim can be found in various Scottish records and charters from the 12th and 13th centuries. One of the earliest known references is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which lists individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. This document includes the name Symone Sym.

During the 13th century, the name Sim also appeared in various forms, such as Syme, Syme, and Symon. These variations likely stemmed from the Scots pronunciation of the name, as well as the influence of other languages like Norman French.

In the 14th century, the name Sim began to appear in connection with various place names in Scotland. For example, there are references to individuals from places like Symington and Symondstoun (now known as Symington in South Ayrshire).

One of the earliest known bearers of the name Sim was Sir John Sym, a Scottish nobleman who lived in the late 14th century. He was a prominent figure in the court of King Robert III of Scotland.

Another notable individual with the surname Sim was Robert Simson, a renowned Scottish mathematician and geometer who lived from 1687 to 1768. He made significant contributions to the fields of mathematics and geometry and is best known for his work on the properties of conic sections.

In the 17th century, the name Sim also gained prominence in the Scottish Borders region. One notable figure from this area was John Sim, a minister and theologian who lived from 1616 to 1688. He was a prominent figure in the Church of Scotland and played a significant role in the religious and political conflicts of his time.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the surname Sim continued to be found throughout Scotland, particularly in areas like Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, and the Scottish Borders. Several notable individuals bearing this name emerged during this period, including Sir John Sim, a Scottish merchant and landowner who lived from 1759 to 1831.

Another notable figure was William Sim, a Scottish artist and engraver who lived from 1791 to 1862. He was known for his intricate engravings of architectural and landscape subjects, and his work was highly regarded in his time.

As the centuries progressed, the surname Sim also spread to other parts of the world, particularly through Scottish migration and exploration. Today, the name can be found in various countries, but its roots can be traced back to its Scottish origins and the flat or level ground that likely inspired its initial use.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sim

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Sim.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Sim was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Sim has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Sim was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Sim, please contact us.

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