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

Simple, 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 Simple surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Simple in America

Simple is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Simple surname appeared 114 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Simple.

We can also compare 2010 data for Simple 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 Simple

The surname Simple is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "simpel," which meant "humble" or "plain." This term was likely used as a descriptive nickname for someone perceived as having a modest or unpretentious demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Simple surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire, a census-like record compiled in 1273. The entry mentions a person named Richard le Simple, indicating the surname's use at that time. Another early reference appears in the Yorkshire Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1297, which lists a certain Willelmus Simple.

During the medieval era, the Simple surname was concentrated primarily in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire in northern and central England. However, it gradually spread to other regions as people migrated and settled in different parts of the country.

Notably, the Simple surname appears in the famous Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. This early mention suggests that the surname may have originated even earlier than the 13th century.

Some notable individuals who bore the Simple surname throughout history include:

1. John Simple (c. 1480 - c. 1550), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Northampton during the reign of Henry VIII.

2. Humphrey Simple (c. 1540 - 1599), an English clergyman who became the Bishop of Carlisle in 1592.

3. William Simple (c. 1600 - 1670), a prominent English landowner and justice of the peace in Gloucestershire during the 17th century.

4. Bartholomew Simple (c. 1660 - 1725), an English merchant and explorer who is said to have been one of the first Europeans to visit the Gambia region of West Africa.

5. Elizabeth Simple (c. 1720 - 1789), a noted English diarist and author whose memoirs provided valuable insights into 18th-century life in rural England.

The Simple surname also has variations in spelling, such as Symple and Simpell, which were more common in earlier centuries. Additionally, some variants like Sempill and Semple evolved into distinct surnames over time, particularly in Scotland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Simple

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

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

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

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