Map of England showing where the Simonds arms are recorded
The Simonds arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
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 England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Simonds arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Simonds Family in England
The surname Simonds is a patronymic name, which means it originated as a way to identify a person as the son of someone named Simon. This name became popular across England following the Norman Conquest, as it was derived from the Hebrew name Simeon. By the time members of the family arrived in York, Maine, around 1620, the spelling had begun to stabilize into the form we recognize today. These early settlers were part of a wave of pioneers who traveled across the Atlantic to establish new lives in the rugged landscape of the New World. Life for these individuals was defined by the challenges of building homes in a wilderness and navigating the complex relationships between colonial settlers and the local indigenous populations. The family name served as a vital link to their English heritage while they adapted to the harsh realities of life in a growing coastal settlement.
Simonds Meaning & Related Branches
Root word
Simon
Derived from the Hebrew name Shimon meaning he has heard.
This name
SimondsA patronymic surname meaning son of Simon.
also spelled
Symonds
Simunds
Symunds
Symond
Related arms
Symondssame arms
Symondvariant spelling
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Banks, Charles Edward, History of York, Maine, 1931
Maine State Archives, York Deeds, 1642–1737
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paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
paleMilitary strength, and a fortified defence
trefoilPerpetuity, and the Trinity
