Simcoe
A locative surname referring to someone from Simcoe, Ontario, Canada.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 754 Americans carry the last name Simcoe. That puts it at #34,835 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.22 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 454,581 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Simcoe surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
754
1 in 454,581
Census rank
#34,835
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
648
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 648 bearers of the surname Simcoe in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.22 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 34835th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Simcoe, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.3%) and Hispanic (1.2%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Simcoe
The surname Simcoe originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "sim" meaning "flat" and "cō" meaning "ridge," suggesting a potential connection to a geographical feature or location.
The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century. In the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, there is a mention of a Robertus de Symcowe, indicating the presence of the name in its early form.
During the 14th century, the name appeared in various records, including the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire, where a Thomas de Symcowe was documented in 1332. The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332 also referenced a John Symcok.
In the 15th century, the name was recorded in the Feet of Fines for Hertfordshire, with a mention of a Thomas Symcoke in 1498. This period also saw the emergence of variations in spelling, such as Simcock and Simcox.
One of the earliest prominent individuals with the surname Simcoe was John Graves Simcoe (1752-1806), a British army officer and the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada (now Ontario, Canada). He played a significant role in the development of the province and is commemorated through various place names, including the city of Simcoe and Lake Simcoe in Ontario.
Another notable figure was Samuel Simcoe (1706-1783), an English merchant and politician who served as the Mayor of Exeter and a Member of Parliament for Honiton.
In the 19th century, John Simcoe Blackburn (1826-1905), an English clergyman and author, gained recognition for his works on sacred poetry and religious literature.
The name Simcoe has also been associated with places in England, such as Simcoe's Corner in Wiltshire and Simcoe's Park in Dorset, although the direct connection to the surname is uncertain.
While the exact origin of the Simcoe surname remains debated, it has a rich history dating back to medieval England and has been borne by notable individuals across various fields throughout the centuries.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Simcoe
Among Census respondents with the surname Simcoe, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.3%) and Hispanic (1.2%).
The bar chart below shows how Simcoe bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Simcoe surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.8%
- Two or more races2.3%
- Unknown or suppressed1.7%
- Hispanic or Latino1.2%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Simcoe surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #34,459 | #34,835 | -1.1% |
| Count | 622 | 648 | 4.2% |
| Per 100K | 0.23 | 0.22 | -4.3% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Simcoe bearers went from 622 to 648 (+4.2% change). The surname moved down 376 positions in the national ranking, going from #34,459 to #34,835.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Simcoe
FAQ
Simcoe surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Simcoe?
The surname Simcoe holds position #34,835 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 754 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.22 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Simcoe surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Simcoe, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.8%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.3%) and Hispanic (1.2%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.