SUMMERS

Summers is a surname of English origin, traditionally found throughout the British Isles and within Christian communities across England.

The name is historically linked to the Middle English word sumer or sumere, which directly translates to the season of summer. In many cases the surname was assigned as an occupational designation to individuals who worked primarily during the summer months, such as farmers active in the season, or to those whose demeanor was described as cheerful and warm, resembling the attributes of the season itself.

Another scholarly perspective traces the surname back to the Old French term somier, meaning a “sumpter” or a person who drove pack horses and mules. Following the Norman invasion of 1066, this form of the name entered England and Scotland, and it appears in early records under a variety of spellings including Symmers, Symers, Simmers, Somers, Sumer, Sumers, Sunter, Sumpter and Summers.

Documented instances of the surname begin in the late twelfth century. For example, William Le Sumeter is listed in the Assise Rolls of Worcester in 1221, while William Somyr is recorded as having received an annual rent for life from King David I of Scotland in 1327. Other early entries include Adam Sumer of Essex in 1223, William Somer in the Worcestershire Pipe Rolls of 1275, and John Somerys in the 1377 Subsidy Rolls of Somerset.

The surname also appears outside the United Kingdom. In the eighteenth century, Sir George Somer, who held a special licence from King James I of England and Scotland, was granted the right to establish a plantation in Virginia; the Bermuda Islands were originally christened “The Somer Islands” in his honour. An early landowner named John Sumers can be found in St Johns parish, Barbados, and his servant, John Vinicott, was a Monmouth rebel sentenced to exile in 1685.

Perhaps the earliest surviving reference to the family name is the attestation of William Sumer, who witnessed a grant to Soltre Hospital in a charter from Edinburgh dated circa 1180. This document dates to the reign of King William “the Lion” of Scotland (1165–1214) and confirms that the surname was in use in Scotland before it became widespread across the United Kingdom.

Typical given names associated with the Summers surname

Male

• Andrew
• Christopher
• David
• James
• John
• Mark
• Michael
• Paul
• Peter
• Robert

Female

• Elizabeth
• Helen
• Jane
• Julie
• Karen
• Laura
• Linda
• Margaret
• Mary
• Patricia
• Sarah
• Susan

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

How to communicate the surname Summers in...

Braille

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Morse

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Semaphore

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Famous people named Summers

• Tara Summers - Actress
• Isabella Summers - Musician, songwriter, producer and remixer
• Montague Summers - Writer (1880 to 1948)
• Jazz Summers - Music manager (1944 to 2015)
• Walter Summers - Film director (1896 to 1)
• Joseph Summers - Chief test pilot (1904 to 1954)
• Gerry Summers - Football player-manager
• George Summers - Cricketer (1844 to 1870)
• Rod Summers - Artist
• Francis Summers - Cricketer (1887 to 1967)
• Douglas Summers - Cricketer (1911 to 2000)
• Charles Summers - Artist (1825 to 1878)
• Shane Summers - Racing driver (1936 to 1961)
• Johnny Summers - Boxer (1882 to 1946)
• Willie Summers - Scottish football player
• George Summers - Football player
• Chris Summers - Welsh former professional football player born 1972
• James Summers - Academic (1828 to 1891)
• Ken Summers - Darts player
• Dorothy Summers -

Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.

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