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

Sumpter, 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 Sumpter surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sumpter in America

Sumpter is the 4467th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sumpter surname appeared 7,950 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Sumpter.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sumpter 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 Sumpter

The surname Sumpter originated in England, likely deriving from the Old English word "sumptere," which referred to a person who transported goods on pack animals, such as a mule or a horse. The name is thought to have originated in the medieval period, possibly as early as the 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Sumpter can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landholdings and wealth in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Sumptere" or "Sumpter," indicating its use as an occupational surname for those engaged in the transportation of goods.

During the Middle Ages, the Sumpter surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire, where trade routes and the transportation of goods were significant activities. The name may also be associated with certain place names, such as Sumpter's Green in Hertfordshire or Sumpter's Hill in Buckinghamshire.

Historically notable individuals with the surname Sumpter include William Sumpter (c. 1460-1536), a wealthy merchant and landowner in Gloucestershire, and Sir Thomas Sumpter (1535-1605), a prominent English politician and member of Parliament during the reign of Elizabeth I.

Another notable figure was John Sumpter (1617-1689), a Puritan minister and author who played a significant role in the Great Migration to New England in the 17th century. He served as a minister in several towns in Massachusetts and published several religious works.

In the 18th century, James Sumpter (1726-1799) was a British soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later became a successful merchant and landowner in Virginia. He was also involved in the early development of the city of Richmond.

During the 19th century, William Sumpter (1832-1913) was a prominent architect in London, known for his work on several churches and public buildings, including the Royal Albert Hall.

Throughout its history, the surname Sumpter has maintained its association with trade, transportation, and commerce, reflecting the occupational origins of the name and the important role played by those engaged in the movement of goods and materials.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sumpter

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

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

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

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