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

Summerfield, 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 Summerfield surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Summerfield in America

Summerfield is the 11423rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Summerfield surname appeared 2,758 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Summerfield.

We can also compare 2010 data for Summerfield 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 Summerfield

The surname Summerfield is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "sumor" meaning summer and "feld" meaning field or open land. It likely originated as a place name for a location characterized by its fertile summer fields or meadows.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, with references found in old tax rolls and parish records. One notable early record is from the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, which mentions a Robert de Summerfield.

During the Middle Ages, variations in spelling were common, and the name appeared in forms such as Somerfeld, Somerfelde, and Somerfeild. It is believed that many of these early bearers of the name were landowners or farmers who lived near fields known for their abundant summer harvests.

In the 16th century, the Summerfield name gained prominence with the birth of John Summerfield (c. 1530-1589), a renowned English scholar and theologian who served as the Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford.

Another notable figure was Sir Richard Summerfield (1615-1683), a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament and played a key role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Summerfield name spread across various regions of England, with concentrations found in counties such as Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Shropshire.

In the 19th century, the name gained international recognition with the life of John Summerfield (1798-1825), an American Methodist minister and celebrated preacher who was born in England but achieved fame in the United States for his powerful oratory and evangelistic efforts.

Another noteworthy individual was Sir George Summerfield (1855-1931), a British industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the steel industry and founded the Summerfield Trust to support educational and charitable causes.

While the Summerfield name has its roots in the rural landscapes of medieval England, it has evolved to become a widely recognized surname across the English-speaking world, carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Summerfield

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

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 Summerfield 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 Summerfield 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 Summerfield was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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