Life in the Past Lane
A Journey in SIMS (SYMES) Genealogy
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In all of us there is a hunger, marrow deep, to know our heritage - to know who we are and where we have come from. - Alex Haley
Special thanks to my long-lost family, Billy Fisher Sims, Jr., Marianne Sims Buchanan, and Rachel Laney Gergley for all their help with my research.
E-Mail: donnasimsconner@gmail.com
Welcome to my genealogy web site!
I am currently researching the Sims (Symes) families of England, Antigua, Virginia, North Carolina, and Tennessee. This site includes transcribed data as well as copies of original documents, and photographs. If you have additional information, suggestions, comments, or corrections, please e-mail me. I would love to hear from you. Thank you for visiting!
History of Sims (Symes) Surname
The Sims (Symes) surname is derived from the medieval given name "Simme". It is a short form of the Greek personal name "Simon", substituted for the Hebrew "Shimeon" meaning "he who hears". The surname came about as a result of the Crusades. It is one of the biblical names brought back to Europe in the 12th century by the Crusaders. These returning knights subsequently gave their children biblical names. Over time, these baptismal names developed into surnames. In 1733, Symes (English spelling) became Syms, Simms, and Sims.
Sources:
1. Jane Morris, author, Adam Symes and His Descendants, (Philadelphia, PA: Dorrance and Company, 1938), page 4.
2. "Last Name: Sims", The Internet Surname Database (Online: Name Origin Research, 1980-2014), <http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Sims>, accessed 20 Jun 2014.