Explore the Family Name Syms
The meaning of Syms
1. English (Devon and Somerset): variant of Sims. 2. Jewish (from Ukraine; Symes, Symis): metronymic from the Yiddish female personal name Sime (see Sima). History: Benjamin Syms was a planter and philanthropist, probably the earliest inhabitant of any North American colony to bequeath property for the establishment of a free school. His name was spelled variously as Sims, Simes, Sym, Symms, Syms, and Symes. He was probably born in England, but was reported in the VA census of 1624/5 as age 33 and living at Basse’s Choice in what was later known as Isle of Wight County.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Syms in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Syms experienced a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, the name was ranked 39,052nd in terms of popularity and fell to 41,959th by 2010, which represents a -7.44% change. The count of individuals bearing this surname also decreased from 531 in 2000 to 518 in 2010, marking a -2.45% change. Proportionally, for every 100,000 individuals, this surname went from being held by 0.2 people in 2000 to 0.18 people in 2010, reflecting a -10.0% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #39,052 | #41,959 | -7.44% |
| Count | 531 | 518 | -2.45% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.2 | 0.18 | -10% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Syms
With regard to the ethnic identity associated with the surname Syms, the Decennial U.S. Census data shows a few changes between 2000 and 2010. Individuals identified as White made up 66.85% of those with the Syms surname in 2000, growing to 69.11% by 2010. Black individuals represented 29.76% of those with this surname in 2000, which decreased to 26.64% in 2010. The percentage of individuals of two or more ethnicities decreased from 1.88% to 1.54%. While there were no individuals identified as Asian/Pacific Islander or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year, the census did record a new emergence of Hispanic representation at 1.74% in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 66.85% | 69.11% | 3.38% |
| Black | 29.76% | 26.64% | -10.48% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 1.74% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 1.88% | 1.54% | -18.09% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |