A male name. the usual New Testament form of Hebrew Shimeon ‘hearkening’ (see Simeon). There was a Greek personal name Σίμών, derived from σιμός ‘snub-nosed’, and this probably influenced the later form of the name. No fewer than 8 persons of this name are mentioned in the New Testament, as well as the aged Simeon. The great popularity of Simon as a christian name in the Middle Ages was due to Simon Barjona surnamed Peter (q.v.), the favourite apostle during that period. Simon almost rivalled Peter in frequency before the Reformation, and gave rise to a host of surnames, such as Simon, Simons, Sim, Sims, Simes, Syme, Simson, Simpson, Simcock, Simcox, Simkin, Simkins, Simpkins, Simpkins, Simkinson, Simonds, Simmonds, Sinkins, Sinkinson, Sincox, most of which are also found spelt with a y. The final d in Simond is a common development (cf. Hammond for Hamon), and Promptorium Parvulorum gives Symounde as the English form of Simon, while Symond is the usual spelling in the 15th and 16th C. The names Simon, Simond’, Simund’ which occur in Domesday Book are probably not anything to do with Simon, but represent a Norman version of the name Sigmund, which existed in Old English as well as on the Continent. Simon, like Peter, went out of general use after the Reformation and has not since recovered its former popularity, though it is now more common than it has been for some centuries. The abbreviation Sim has been used since the 13 th C.

Simon Curia Regis Rolls 1197-1215, Feudal Aids 1284. Simond Hundred Rolls 1273, Exchequer Rolls 1300 Symond Patent Rolls 1394, 15th-C Brut. Symounde Promptorium Parvulorum 1440. Symkyn The Coventry Leet Book 1480. Symme Coventry Mysteries 15th C.