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

Simkins, 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 Simkins surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Simkins in America

Simkins is the 11216th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Simkins surname appeared 2,819 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Simkins.

We can also compare 2010 data for Simkins 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 Simkins

The surname SIMKINS has its origins in England, dating back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English personal name "Sigemund," which means "victorious protector." The name likely originated in the counties of Warwickshire and Worcestershire, where early records show the name spelled as Simkin, Simkyn, and Symkyn.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire from 1195, which mentions a "Simkin de Beldesert." The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also list several individuals with the name, including a "Simkyn de Clent" from Worcestershire and a "Simkin de Cherleton" from Shropshire.

The SIMKINS surname may also have been influenced by the Old French word "simkin," which referred to a small ape or monkey. This connection could have led to the name being used as a nickname for someone with a small stature or perceived mischievous behavior.

In the 14th century, the name appeared in various records across England, including the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which listed a "Simkyn Prute" in Yorkshire and a "Simkin Hayward" in Oxfordshire.

One notable bearer of the SIMKINS name was Roger Symkyn, a wealthy merchant and alderman of the City of London in the early 15th century. He was born around 1380 and served as the Sheriff of London in 1415.

Another individual of historical significance was William Simkins, a 16th-century English theologian and author. He was born in Oxfordshire around 1520 and wrote several religious works, including "A Godly Exposition upon the Twenty-third Psalm" (1559).

In the 17th century, the SIMKINS surname appeared in various parish records across England. One example is John Simkins, who was born in Warwickshire in 1623 and later served as a captain in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War.

During the 18th century, the SIMKINS name was found in various parts of England, including London, where a notable bearer was Samuel Simkins, a successful merchant and philanthropist born in 1724. He founded the Simkins Charity School in Clerkenwell, which provided education for underprivileged children.

Another prominent individual with the SIMKINS surname was Edward Simkins, a 19th-century English artist and illustrator. Born in Gloucestershire in 1818, he is best known for his illustrations in books such as "The Pilgrim's Progress" and "The Arabian Nights."

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Simkins

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

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 Simkins 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 Simkins 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 Simkins was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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