Map of Scotland showing where the Sime arms are recorded
The Sime arms were recorded in Scotland, c. 1748.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh was the seat of Scotland's government, its courts and its heralds. Families with business there settled nearby, and being close to where arms were recorded is exactly why so many of them appear.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in Scotland in this period.
George II of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George II of Great Britain
1727–1760
Reigning in Scotland when the Sime arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in Scotland
Scottish heraldry is unique because it treats a coat of arms as a piece of personal property protected by law. Only one person can own a specific design at any given time. When a family grows, the head keeps the original shield while other relatives must apply for their own distinct version with slight changes to prove their specific identity.
Granting authority
The Court of the Lord Lyon acts as the official body that regulates and controls all heraldic matters throughout Scotland.
How they got arms
Individuals obtain a legal right to their arms through a formal petition process that confirms their identity and family connection.
Where arms were recorded
All valid coats of arms are officially entered into the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings starting from 1672.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of Scotland.
Origin & History of the Sime Family in Scotland
The surname Sime is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify someone as the son of Simon. This name became common in Scotland during the Middle Ages as people began adopting fixed surnames to distinguish themselves in growing communities. By the mid-eighteenth century, the family was well-established in the city of Edinburgh. Records from 1748 show that members of the Sime family were active participants in the urban life of the Scottish capital during a time of significant social and economic change. As the city expanded, these early ancestors likely worked in the trades or professions that supported the bustling markets and legal institutions of the era. Their presence in Edinburgh suggests they were part of the steady growth of the Scottish middle class, contributing to the history of a city that was rapidly becoming a center for culture and industry.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Shim'on
Hebrew for he has heard or God has heard.
This name
SimeA Scottish patronymic surname derived from a diminutive form of Simon.
also spelled
Sime
Sim
Syms
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Black, George Fraser, The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History, 1946
National Records of Scotland, Old Parish Registers of Edinburgh, 1748
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escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
escallopThe pilgrim's shell, and a long journey made
