Simris has been interpreted as "at the mouth of the slow-flowing (river)" and hamn as "port or harbour",[2] meaning present-day Tommarpsån.

In 1658, when Scania under the Treaty of Roskilde was permanently transferred from Denmark to Sweden, the town had a population of about 200 people.

Even so, the cool temperatures of the Baltic Sea keeps the immediate coastline on average a couple of degrees cooler during July days than in places further north in the country or the western part of Skåne.

This means that August averages the warmest summer nights and that September is a lot warmer than May as the sea water gradually warms.

During winter, this maritime proximity of Österlen reverses the climate patterns and leads to average highs above 3 °C (37 °F) on the coastline and frosts usually being weak even while frequent.