Simpson Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Simpson mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the Simpson name
Simpson is a patronymic, "son of Sim", a short form of Simon, a name made popular by Simon Peter. The intrusive p between m and s is a natural feature of English speech, and the form without it, Simson, was once just as usual. The surname is most common in northern England and in Scotland, especially the Lothians and the north-east, and is now widespread in all English-speaking countries.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Simpson name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Simpson name in England & Scotland. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Canada and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Your full Simpson pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Simpson coat of arms for you.
Simpson name FAQ
What does the Simpson name mean?
Son of Sim (Simon). Common variants include Simson, Sympson, Simison.
Where does the Simpson surname come from?
It originates in England & Scotland, and is also found in the United States, Canada and Australia.
Is there a Simpson coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Simpson crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Simpson coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; George F. Black, The Surnames of Scotland (New York Public Library, 1946); Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).