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

Summerson, 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 Summerson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Summerson in America

Summerson is the 38155th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Summerson surname appeared 581 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Summerson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Summerson 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 Summerson

The surname Summerson has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "sumor" meaning summer and "tun" meaning a farm or settlement. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived or worked at a summer farm or settlement.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the 13th century Huntingdonshire Hundred Rolls, where it appears as "Sumertone". This early spelling variation highlights the connection to the Old English roots and the potential link to a specific place name.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where it is spelled "Somerton". This variation further reinforces the association with a place name, potentially referring to the town of Somerton in Somerset.

During the 15th century, the spelling "Summerson" began to emerge more consistently. One notable individual bearing this surname was John Summerson, a prominent English architect and architectural historian who lived from 1904 to 1992. He is best known for his influential works on English architecture, including "The Architecture of the Eighteenth Century" and "The Life and Work of John Nash, Architect".

Another individual of historical significance was Sir William Summerson, born in 1675, who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1741. He was a respected merchant and philanthropist, known for his contributions to the city's development and charitable endeavors.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in the records of the Gloucestershire Visitation of 1623, where it was documented as "Summerson of Newland". This suggests that the family may have had connections to the town of Newland in Gloucestershire during that period.

The 18th century saw the birth of William Summerson, a British naval officer who participated in several notable battles during the American Revolutionary War. Born in 1741, he was commended for his bravery and service to the Royal Navy.

Moving into the 19th century, one notable bearer of the Summerson surname was John Summerson, born in 1840. He was a prominent educator and author, best known for his works on the history of education and educational reform in England.

Throughout its history, the surname Summerson has maintained a strong presence in various regions of England, particularly in counties such as Somerset, Gloucestershire, and Worcestershire, where it has deep roots. While the name may have originated from a specific place name or settlement, it has since spread and become an established surname across the country and beyond.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Summerson

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

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

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

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