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

Simma, 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 Simma surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Simma in America

Simma is the 138741st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Simma surname appeared 111 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Simma.

The history of the last name Simma

The surname Simma originates from Central Europe, particularly areas that are now part of modern-day Germany and Austria. The earliest instances of this surname can be traced back to the Middle Ages, around the 12th or 13th centuries. This name likely has roots in the Germanic language and could be associated with the Old High German word "siman," which means to be at rest or to be idle.

Historical references to the surname Simma appear in medieval manuscripts and ecclesiastical records. One of the earliest mentions is in a 1265 register from the city of Mainz in Germany, where a Ludwig Simma is listed as a craftsman. This indicates that the name was already established by then.

In the 14th century, Hans Simma, born around 1338, is recorded as a notable merchant in the town of Augsburg. He is mentioned in town records as having contributed significantly to the local economy. His involvement in trade links the name Simma to mercantile activities in medieval Europe.

Another early recorded instance is of a Johannes Simma, a cleric in Vienna, born in 1415. His name appears in ecclesiastical documents from the mid-15th century. These references highlight the spread and establishment of the surname in various regions of the Holy Roman Empire.

By the Renaissance period, the surname Simma had become more widespread. A prominent figure was Sebastian Simma, born in 1546 in Nuremberg, who was a noted artist and sculptor. His works are still studied in the context of Northern Renaissance art, and his contributions to sculpture have been preserved in several German museums.

In the 17th century, records from Salzburg mention a Maria Simma, born in 1648, who was involved in the early textile industry. Her name appears in guild records, reflecting the surname's association with craftsmanship and trade.

These early records and mentions of the surname Simma indicate that it has a long and varied history, deeply embedded in the mercantile, ecclesiastical, and artistic traditions of Central Europe. The surname has seen several orthographic variations over the centuries, including Simmah and Simm, but has always retained its original phonetic essence.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Simma

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Simma 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.

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

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

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