Find out how popular the last name Sommers is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Sommers.

Sommers, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Sommers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sommers in America

Sommers is the 3063rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sommers surname appeared 11,706 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Sommers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sommers to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Sommers

The surname Sommers has its origins in the German language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old German word "sumer," which means summer, indicating that the initial bearers of this name might have been born during the summer months or lived in an area known for its warm summers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Sommers name can be found in the Codex Diplomaticus, a collection of medieval charters and documents from the German region, where a certain "Heinrich Sommer" is mentioned in a document dated 1274.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the Sommers name appeared in various German regions, including Bavaria, Saxony, and the Rhineland. It was often associated with occupations related to agriculture or seasonal work, as the summer was a crucial time for farming activities.

In the late 15th century, a notable figure named Hans Sommers (1457-1521) was a renowned German painter and engraver, known for his contributions to the Renaissance art movement in Germany.

As the name spread across Europe, variations in spelling emerged, such as Sommer, Somers, and Sommers. In England, the name Somers can be traced back to the 16th century, with records showing a John Somers (1551-1610) who served as a member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another prominent individual with the Sommers surname was Johann Sommers (1642-1701), a German composer and organist who made significant contributions to the Baroque music era.

In the 18th century, the Sommers name gained recognition in the Netherlands, with Jan Sommers (1779-1849) being a renowned Dutch landscape painter and etcher.

As migration patterns increased, the Sommers surname spread to other parts of the world, including the United States and Canada. One notable American figure was Benjamin Sommers (1817-1892), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Pennsylvania.

Throughout its history, the Sommers surname has been associated with various occupations, from agriculture and artistry to business and politics, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and achievements of its bearers across different regions and time periods.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sommers

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Sommers.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Sommers was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Sommers has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Sommers was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Sommers, please contact us.

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