Summerlin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The name Summerlin is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of the Britain and comes 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 Summerlin family

The surname Summerlin 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 Summerlin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Summerlin 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 Summerlin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Summerlin Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Summerlin has been spelled many different ways, including Somers, Sommers, Summers, Sommer, Summer, Somerton, Sommerton, Sumpton, Sumption and many more.

Early Notables of the Summerlin family

Distinguished 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 best-known court jester of Henry VIII of England from Shropshire. Admiral Sir George...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Summerlin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Summerlin Ranking

In the United States, the name Summerlin is the 4,541^st most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Summerlin family to Ireland

Some of the Summerlin 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.

Summerlin migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Summerlins to arrive in North America:

Summerlin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Summerlin, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1787 6

Contemporary Notables of the name Summerlin (post 1700) +

Jean Amelia Summerlin (1842-1928), American eponym of Summerlin, Nevada; she was the mother of Howard R. Hughes Sr., the famous businessman, inventor and founder of Hughes Tool Company
Robert L. Summerlin, American jurist and politician, the 5th Mayor of Orlando from 1878 to 1882, son of Jacob Summerlin
Sam Summerlin (1928-2017), American journalist, author and foreign correspondent, known for his work at the Associated Press (1949-1975)
Jacob Summerlin (1820-1893), aka the King of the Crackers and King of the Cracker Cow Hunters, reputed to be the first child born in Florida after the land was ceded by Spain
George Thomas Summerlin (1872-1947), American army officer and diplomat from Louisiana, Chief of Protocol under Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Mark Summerlin (b. 1970), American guitarist, songwriter, and producer
Edgar Eugene Summerlin (1928-2006), American composer, jazz saxophonist, and music educator

Citations +

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)