Sims
A patronymic surname meaning “son of Sim,” with Sim being a short form of Simon.
The #270 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 2,723 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Sims is a patronymic surname formed from the medieval pet form Sim, itself a short form of Simon. In that sense, it originally meant “son of Sim” or “son of Simon.” The personal name Simon ultimately comes from the Hebrew name Shim‘on, traditionally understood as meaning “he has heard.”
History
Historical surname writers note Sims, Simson, Syms, and related forms as members of the same Simon-name family. The name appears early in England and Scotland, and spellings varied freely before modern standardization. In Scottish records, forms such as Simson and Symsoun are especially well attested.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname books sometimes describe Sims as a genitive or possessive form of Sim, which is why it sits alongside names like Williams and Wilson.
From the historical record
“■p) for Simson, q.v. SIMS, Sim's (Son) 1 SIMSON, Sim's Son; SINCLAIR (A.-Fr.-Lat.) Bel. to St. Clair (several in Normandy) [Fr. clair, Lat. clar-us, clear, bright, illustrious] This name was Latinized in mediaeval deeds de Sancto Claro.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)