Sumerford History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

In ancient Anglo-Saxon England, the ancestors of the Sumerford surname lived in the small English town of Somerford found in the county of Wiltshire.

Early Origins of the Sumerford family

The surname Sumerford was first found in Wiltshire where there is a Great Somerford and Little Somerford. Both date back to 937 when they were listed simply as Sumerford. By the time of the Domesday Book in 1086, the village was listed as Sumreford. The placename literally means "ford usable in the summer," from the Old English sumor + ford. 1 Somerford Keynes is located in Gloucestershire and that locale dates back further to 685 when it was listed as Sumerford.

Early History of the Sumerford family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sumerford research. Another 71 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sumerford History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sumerford Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Sumerford 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 Sumerford include: Somerford, Somerfield and others.

Early Notables of the Sumerford family

More information is included under the topic Early Sumerford Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sumerford family

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 Sumerford or a variant listed above: Geoffrey Somerford who settled in Virginia in 1654.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)