This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Simpson family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Simpson Family History

Simpson Surname Meaning

Scottish (Lanarkshire) and English: patronymic from the Middle English and Older Scots personal name Sim(m) Sime (see Sim) + -son. English: occasionally a variant of Sumsion with unrounding of the vowel before the nasal consonant a dialect feature of southwestern England.

English: habitational name from any of the three places called Simpson or one called Zemson, all in Devon. The one in Holsworthy parish derives from an uncertain first element + Old English tūn ‘farmstead estate’.

While the one in Diptford comes from the Old English personal name Sigewine (genitive Sigewines) + Old English tūn. Both the one in Torbryan and Zempson in Dean Prior probably also have the same origin as the Diptford placename.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Simpson family from?

You can see how Simpson families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Simpson family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Simpson families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 9,069 Simpson families living in Yorkshire. This was about 22% of all the recorded Simpson's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Simpson families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Simpson surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Simpson ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Simpson. 7% of Simpson men worked as a General Labourer and 64% of Simpson women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Simpson were Farmer and Private Means.

View Census Data for Simpson | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    7%
  • Builders Labourer
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
  • Farmer
    2%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    64%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Simpson family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1 million census records available for the last name Simpson. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Simpson census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Simpson

Passenger Lists

There are 206,000 immigration records available for the last name Simpson. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Simpson immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 209,000 military records available for the last name Simpson. For the veterans among your Simpson ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Simpson military records

You've only scratched the surface of Simpson family history

Discover More

What is the average Simpson lifespan?

Between 1940 and 2004, in the United States, Simpson life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Simpson in 1940 was 41, and 74 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Simpson

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Simpson ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Simpson family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial