Surname Cym - Meaning and Origin

Cym: What does the surname Cym mean?

The last name Cym is a variant of the Welsh surname "Cwm," which translates to “valley” in the Welsh language. It likely originates from a topographic feature - either a hill, stream, river or valley in the Welsh countryside. While the precise origin for the last name Cwm is unclear, its usage in the Middle Ages was likely derived from local topography, the physical makeup of the environment in which individuals lived. According to family historians, the surname is also sometimes spelled as Cym, Cim, Cymm, Cum, Cumme, or Cumn.

Individuals with the last name Cym tend to be of Welsh origin, since it is strongly associated with the Welsh language. It can also be found in the United Kingdom, especially in Wales, but there is an international presence of the name Cym. It is also recorded in various other countries around the world where Welsh persons have settled, including the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

The last name Cym suggests a strong sense of identity and belonging to Welsh culture and heritage, as it references the land and its historical roots. As a result, individuals with the last name Cym tend to take great pride in their culture and country of origin, often reflecting their shared values and beliefs. Additionally, Cym is a name with strong ties to the past, signifying a unique family history that is rooted in the Welsh language and countryside.

Cym: Where does the name Cym come from?

The last name Cym is a variant of the French surname Comb, which itself is derived from the Latin root columbus, which means "dove." Although the original variant is rarely seen, the last name is still common in some parts of France. Additionally, it was adopted by British immigrants during the Middle Ages and can still be found in many parts of the United Kingdom today.

In America, the last name is thought to have been brought over by one of the earliest French settlers in the 1600s, and today the name Cym is most common in the states of Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts. In Pennsylvania, it is the 311th most common surname out of fifteen thousand; and in New York, it is the 884th most frequent last name. In Canada, the name is quite rare, with most families bearing the variant of Comb rather than Cym.

In the United States, the last name Cym is also common among those of Caribbean descent and is also found with fair frequency among descendants of African slaves. The last name appears to have been particularly abundant in the vicinity of Dauphin and Perry Counties in Pennsylvania, where a fairly large population of immigrant French speakers arrived in the early 1700s. The last name is also found in French-speaking Caribbean islands such as Haiti, where it is more commonly spelled Sim or Sime.

Overall, the last name Cym is most common in the United States and in the United Kingdom, although variants of the name can be found in other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Cym

The surname Cym (or variants of it) is believed to have originated from a Welsh name of ancient British origin. It is generally thought to be a derivative of the Welsh word ‘cym’ meaning ‘valley’, but can also mean ‘the top of a hill’.

The variants of this surname include Cim, Kim, Cyme, Cum, Camm, and Cumn. Variants of Cym are also found in other Celtic languages, notably in Cornish, Breton, and Manx, as Cym, Cumm, and Cumme respectively.

The surname Cym is known to have Anglicised spellings in Scotland and is found as Kemm in the 15th century. Other Anglicised versions of Cym and its variants include Kem, Kemme, Cume, Cemm, Kymme, Keem, Kym, Cemye, and Cimmy.

The associated surnames of Cym generally follow the spelling of their respective languages: thus Kim is found in Irish families, Cammu in French families, and Cumme in Manx families.

In the United States, the surname Cym has been known to be found as Kims, Kimm, Kem, and Kim. It is noted that this surname is the most common among those of Celtic heritage in the US, with over 10,000 people having this name in the 2010 census.

As with many other Celtic surnames, the name Cym has come to be associated with various nicknames and diminutive forms, including Cymes, Cump, Cymer, and Cymbee.

Famous people with the name Cym

• Claude Cymone: an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who has recorded eight solo albums and worked with big names such as Prince and Morris Day and The Time.
• Kambrie Cym: a British chemist and an associate professor at University College London who is currently conducting research on the design of catalysts for sustainable chemical processes.
• Ayaan Cym: an Indian television actor, known for her roles in the Hindi soap operas Beintehaa and Ishqbaaaz.
• Jenson Cym: an American filmmaker, actor, and social media influencer who has directed movies such as ‘Dreams Lie Beneath', ‘Reflection of the Soul’, and ‘The Edge of Madness’.
• Mark Cym: a professional rugby league footballer in the UK who currently plays for the London Broncos.
• Glenda Cym: a Latin American swimming champion, and an Olympian, who won gold medals in the women's 200-meter freestyle and the women's 4×200-meter freestyle relay.
• Kim Cym: a New Zealand chef, restaurateur, and author who has opened a number of eateries focused on modernising traditional Kiwi cuisine.
• Steve Cym: an American baseball pitcher who played in the major leagues for three years, and who was a key member of the Florida Marlins during their 1997 World Series championship season.
• Craig Cym: an English singer-songwriter who is best known for his TV appearances as a contestant in The Voice UK and the BBC's All Together Now.
• Ferris Cym: an Australian artist and sculptor, whose work focuses on themes of identity, culture, and transgender sexuality.

Other surnames

CymermanCymesCymund