A French, German, Italian, Spanish and English surname, the Simon family name original came from the Hebrew name of ‘Shim’on’ and from the another word ‘sham’a’ which means to hearken. Some of the earliest English Simon families lived in the southwest region of England in Devon and Cornwall.
Other spellings for Simon include Simeon, Symond, Symons, Simins, Simmons, Simmen, Symon, Sigmund and Simund.

In England the Simon family name is primarily in the northern region in Yorkshire and Lancashire counties. There are many Simon families in London and on the Channel Islands. In Wales the surname is in Carmarthenshire and Glamorgan areas. In Scotland the Simon families are mostly along the eastern portion in the areas of Fife, Midlothian, Aberdeenshire and Angus.

The states of New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Louisiana, Illinois and California have the greater number of Simon families in the United States.

Famous: Bob Simon (news reporter for television), Carly Simon (singer), Claude Simon (novelist from France), Gilles Simon (tennis player from France), Gustav Simon (19th century German surgeon), Kerry Simon (celebrity chef), Marge Simon (writer and artist), Paul Simon (musician and singer), Sam Simon (TV writer and producer) and Thomas Simon (17th century English engraver).