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![Show Contents]() Sommers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Sommers is a name that dates far back into the mists of early British history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes. It is derived from the baptismal name for the son of Summer, a personal name given to a child who was born in the summer. 1 Looking at the surname and many of its variants over the past couple of hundred years, one can only presume that this is the logical and only explanation for the surname's origin. However, let's explore some contrarian explanations. The name could have been derived from "De Someri, a baronial family. Ralph de Summeri of Normandy temp. John. From Sommeri, near Rouen. " 2 The name could have been derived from the "personal-name Sumor but there is no evidence from the use of such a person named in the Domesday Book or later." 3 This noted author continues "the surname is probably identical with the Scottish "Simmer." In Scots, somer is 'a sumpter,' [(packhorse, mule, beast of burden)]applied to men and horses alike." 3 We shall leave the reader with the perplexing conundrum. Early Origins of the Sommers familyThe surname Sommers was first found in Worcestershire they trace their ancestry to the manor of Whiteladies. One of the earliest records of the family was John Somer, Semur, Somerarius (fl. 1380), "Minorite astronomer, belonged to the Franciscan house at Bridgewater, and was probably at Oxford in 1380. " 4 One of the more interesting family members was William Sommers (died 1560), who is said to have been Henry VIII's fool and a native of Shropshire and "at one time a servant in the household of Richard Fermorq of Easton Neston, Northamptonshire. Brought by his master to the court at Greenwich, 'on a holy day,' about 1525, the king is reported to have noticed favourably his witty sallies and to have installed him at once in the royal household as the court fool. According to tradition, Sommers was soon on very familiar terms with the king. He puzzled him with foolish riddles, and amused him by playing practical jokes on Cardinal Wolsey. " 4 Early History of the Sommers familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sommers research. Another 149 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1440, 1554, 1560, 1603, 1610, 1651, 1690, 1697, 1716, 1759, 1791, 1824 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Sommers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Sommers Spelling VariationsIt is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Sommers are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Sommers include: Somers, Sommers, Summers, Sommer, Summer, Somerton, Sommerton, Sumpton, Sumption and many more. Early Notables of the Sommers familyDistinguished members of the family include - Henry Somer (fl. 1440), Chancellor of the Exchequer, probably a relative of John Somer, Clerk of the Exchequer in the early years of Henry IV; and William 'Will' Sommers (or Somers) (died 1560), the b...
- John Somers or Sommers (1651-1716), 1st Baron Somers of Evesham, was an English jurist and statesman in the Glorious Revolution, who became Lord High Chancellor in 1697
Sommers RankingIn the United States, the name Sommers is the 2,907th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 5  Migration of the Sommers family to Ireland
Some of the Sommers family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 136 words (10 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Sommers migration to the United States | + |
Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Sommers or a variant listed above:
Sommers Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- John Sommers, who arrived in Maryland in 1680 6
Sommers Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Margaret Sommers, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 6
- George Sommers, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1753 6
- Henry Sommers, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 6
Sommers Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Patrick Sommers, who landed in New York, NY in 1812 6
- Charles G Sommers, who landed in New York in 1825 6
- Christian Sommers, aged 29, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 6
- W Sommers, who landed in America in 1845 6
- Joh H Sommers, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1848 6
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Sommers Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Sylvan Sommers, who arrived in Mississippi in 1902 6
| Sommers migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Sommers Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Denis Sommers, aged 25, who arrived in South Australia in 1857 aboard the ship "Royal Albert"
| Contemporary Notables of the name Sommers (post 1700) | + |
- Helen Sommers (1932-2017), American politician, Member of the Washington House of Representatives from the 36th district (1972-2009)
- Sergeant Major Archibald Sommers, the first member of the United States Marine Corps to be promoted to the rank of Sergeant Major in 1801
- Rudolph Sommers (1886-1949), American Major League Baseball pitcher
- Jack William Sommers (1917-1975), American NFL football offensive lineman
- Joseph Andrews Sommers (1866-1908), American former professional baseball catcher in the National League from 1887-1890
- Dennis James Sommers (b. 1940), retired American Major League Baseball catcher, manager and coach
- Bruce Dale Sommers (1943-2012), American radio personality, known by his nickname "The Truckin' Bozo"
- Christina Hoff Sommers (b. 1950), American author and former philosophy professor
- Stephen Sommers (b. 1962), American screenwriter and film director, best known for The Mummy and its sequel, The Mummy Returns
- Josef Sommers (b. 1934), American film actor
- ... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
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Sommers migration to the United States 
Sommers migration to Australia 
England
Germany
Ireland
