The Sim surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 6,047 people carried this name — #5,732 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 48,800 people counted. That is up 23% from 4,915 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Sim surname

A Scottish surname transferred from the given name derived from the given name.

From Middle English Sym, diminutive of Simeon and Simon.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Sim» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a baptismal name, from a given name: ‘the son of Simon’.

An early record he cites: Robertus Symmes, 1379 — Poll Tax, West Riding of Yorkshire.

His entry covers Sim, Simms, Sims, Simpson and Simson.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 691 · public domain.

In Poland’s population register

144 people named Sim have a registered home in Poland.

Of the 211 in Poland’s national register, these are the ones with a permanent address on file. They live in 8 of Poland’s 16 voivodeships, most of all in Lublin.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Lublin 108
West Pomeranian 11
Masovian 8
Pomeranian 6
Lubusz 4
Łódź 3
Lower Silesian 2
Lesser Poland 2

PESEL register, Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland (dane.gov.pl) — CC0 · living people by voivodeship of permanent residence, 20 January 2026.

In France’s civil register

France’s register of deaths holds 41 people named Sim.

Most of them — 36 — were born outside France. Those born in France came from 3 départements, most often Pas-de-Calais.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born

Born outside France 36
Pas-de-Calais 3
Paris 1
Seine-et-Marne 1

Fichier des personnes décédées, INSEE — Licence Ouverte 2.0 · deaths recorded in France since 1970, by place of birth.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

37 people named Sim live in Switzerland.

They live in 6 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 10
Vaud 9
Geneva 8
Valais 4
Aargau 3
Graubünden 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In the Nordic population registers

20 people named Sim is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 20

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Sim was found among the farmers of Cumberland and Westmorland: 40 in every 10,000.

Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent. His list gives one count for the spellings Sim and Simm.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Cumberland and Westmorland 40

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In Scotland’s registers today

Sim was recorded 83 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 315th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 138. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Sim in American newspapers,
1912–1916.

Newspaper page from The Ekalaka Eagle carrying the name Sim
The Ekalaka Eagle 1912-11-22
Newspaper page from The Poplar Standard carrying the name Sim
The Poplar Standard 1912-11-21
Newspaper page from The Neshoba Democrat carrying the name Sim
The Neshoba Democrat 1916-12-14

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 22,563 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Sim in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

58,309 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Sim. The most, 12,567, date from the 1910s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Victoria, at 1.3 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 16,615
Victoria 16,115
Queensland 13,121
South Australia 5,891
Tasmania 3,272
Western Australia 2,734
ACT (Canberra) 408
Northern Territory 41

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Sim.

Who carried it

People named Sim,
with a public archive behind them.

  • William Sim
    William Sim 1858–1928 · lawyer
  • Arthur Wesley Sim
    Arthur Wesley Sim 1859–1929 · politician
  • Wilfrid Sim
    Wilfrid Sim 1890–1974 · lawyer
  • Alice Dora Sim d. 1961
  • William Sim 1830–
  • William Sim 1831–

Wikidata (CC0) · portraits via Wikimedia Commons, shown cropped, in the public domain or CC0 · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Sim,
in the records of 9 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States405 records

405 records of the Sim name in the United States
  • U.S. alien registration index, 1940–1955 134
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 81
  • Other U.S. records 190
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record George D. Sim

    Born 1926 in Pennsylvania. Enlisted 1944 at Philadelphia, from Philadelphia County. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1945, buried at Beverly National Cemetery, New Jersey.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Nicholas Sim

    Arrived at New York in 1884 aboard the City of Rome from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 49; merchant. From Plymouth, England; bound for Boston.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)
  3. A U.S. Army record of death and interment, Camp Nelson, Kentucky, 1864
    Example: U.S. burial record, 1864
    Burial record Steve C. Sim

    U.S. Army veteran. Born 1957, died 1980; buried at Riverside National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)

Showing 3 of 405 records for Sim in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Record of death and interment, Camp Nelson, Kentucky, 1864, U.S. National Archives (public domain).

Australia860 records

860 records of the Sim name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 456
  • Queensland State Archives indexes 171
  • Other Australian records 233
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Mary Sim

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Rajah, sailing from London in 1841. Native of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1844. Married 1844 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 25.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mary Sim

    Arrived in Victoria in 1855 aboard the Kent, as an infant; Scottish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record Ernest Sim

    NSW railway employee; served in the First World War with the 18th Battalion.

    Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY)

Showing 3 of 860 records for Sim in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Canada176 records

176 records of the Sim name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 98
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 26
  • Other Canadian records 52
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Mat Sim

    Came to Ontario in 1875 aboard the Sarmatian, landing at Quebec, bound for BraceBridge, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Dorothy Mary Sim

    Buried in 1989 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 98.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record John Sim

    Buried in 1986 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aged 75.

    Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax.

Showing 3 of 176 records for Sim in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · Halifax Regional Municipality. Contains information licenced under the Open Government Licence—Halifax. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · Contains information provided by the City of Waterloo under licence · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0).

United Kingdom91 records

91 records of the Sim name in the United Kingdom
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 58
  • Stirling Council burial records 22
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 11
  1. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record William Arthur Sim

    Born 1890 at Elgin; baker. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Sim

    Died 1981, aged 59; buried at Snowdon Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record William Sim

    Born 1859 at Morayshire; chief engineer. Served in the First World War. Named in the Morayshire roll of honour (1921).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)

Showing 3 of 91 records for Sim in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0); Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

New Zealand25 records

25 records of the Sim name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 18
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 4
  • Other New Zealand records 3
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Ellen Clarkson Sim

    Died 1973, aged 67; buried at Sydenham Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Lilian Sim

    Died 1923, aged 27; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record L. Sim

    New Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 25 records for Sim in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Thames-Coromandel District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Netherlands19 records

19 records of the Sim name in the Netherlands
  • Dutch church registers before 1811 13
  • Dutch civil registers (births, marriages, deaths) 4
  • Dutch population registers 2
  1. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Maria Sim

    Died 1811 in Den Haag, aged 85.

    Open Archives, Nationaal Archief Rijksarchief Zuid-Holland (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Richardt Sim

    Married in 1645 in Tholen; born in Exceter in Engeland.

    Open Archives, Gemeentearchief Tholen (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Margaretha Sim

    Died 1820 in Rotterdam, aged 44.

    Open Archives, Stadsarchief Rotterdam (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 19 records for Sim in the Netherlands.

Counts: Open Archives (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain).

France4 records

4 records of the Sim name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Roeung Sim

    Born 1920 in Cambodia; died 1998 in Lagny-sur-Marne (Seine-et-Marne).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Sar Virak Sim

    Born 1974 in Cambodia; died 1997 in Vire (Calvados).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 2 of 4 records for Sim in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Norway2 records

2 records of the Sim name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Josef Sim

    Census of 1910: Vesterelvjorden, Næsseby; "fjeldfin", born 1862 in Næsseby.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Marit Sim

    Census of 1910: Sirdagoppe (no), Næsseby; "nomaderskone", born 1856 in Norvaranger %t%.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

Germany1 record

1 record of the Sim name in Germany Germany's First World War casualty lists, 1914–1919
  1. A page of the German First World War casualty lists, 18 April 1918
    Example: German casualty list, 1918
    Casualty list Konrad Sim

    From Zeiskam, Pfalz. Reported wounded in the Bavarian casualty list of 29 November 1914 (Infantry Regiment No. 18).

    Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0)

Counts: Verein für Computergenealogie e.V. (2026). Deutsche Verlustlisten des Ersten Weltkriegs – Datensammlung (Version 1.0), DOI 10.5281/zenodo.18330751 (CC0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Deutsche Verlustlisten, Prussian list 1116, 18 April 1918 (scan via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Sim.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Sim is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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