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Summers History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Summers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Germany

The German state of Bavaria is the ancestral home of the Summers family. Nickname surnames, such as Summers, were derived from an eke-name, or added name. They usually reflected the physical characteristics or attributes of the first person that used the name. The family name Summers is a name for a person born in the summer. The name comes from the Old German word "sumar," which means "summer."

Early Origins of the Summers family

The surname Summers was first found in the region of Lower Franconia, where the name acquired a significant reputation for its contribution to the emerging mediaeval society. They later became more prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates and branches, some in foreign countries. They were always elevating their social status by their great contributions to society.

Early History of the Summers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Summers research. Another 137 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1800, 1814, 1832 and 1846 are included under the topic Early Summers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Summers Spelling Variations

In the medieval era, many different cultural groups lived in the German states. There are thus many regional variations of German surnames from that era. Westphalians spoke Low German, which is similar to modern Dutch. Many German names carry suffixes that identify where they came from. Others have phrases attached that identify something about the original bearer. Other variations in German names resulted from the fact that medieval scribes worked without the aid of any spelling rules. The spelling variations of the name Summers include Sommer, Sommers, Summers, Somer, Somers and others.

Early Notables of the Summers family

Prominent among members of the name Summers in this period include Franz Joseph von Sommer (d. 1832), who published an innovative work on military training and took part in the 1814 campaign in France; Carl, his oldest son, was in the service of...
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Summers Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Summers World Ranking

In the United States, the name Summers is the 499^th most popular surname with an estimated 57,201 people with that name. 1 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Summers is ranked the 729^th most popular surname with an estimated 59 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name Summers is the 605^th popular surname with an estimated 6,488 people with that name. 3 The United Kingdom ranks Summers as 492^nd with 13,115 people. 4

Summers migration to the United States +

German settlers were among the most common to come to North America between the mid-17th and mid-20th centuries. Poverty and religious persecution drove many Bavarians to make this long trek. tenant farmers were also enticed by the prospect of owning land. From east to west, these German immigrants populated the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Ontario and the prairie provinces of Canada also provided homes to many. Early settlers bearing the Summers surname or a spelling variation of the name include:

Summers Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Alex Summers, who landed in Virginia in 1638 5
Roger Summers, who landed in Maryland in 1665 5
Edw Summers, who arrived in Virginia in 1666 5
Mary Summers, who arrived in Maryland in 1669 5
Ann Summers, who arrived in Maryland in 1674 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Summers Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Richard Summers, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 5
Henry Summers, who landed in New England in 1714 5
Jacob Summers, who landed in North Carolina in 1764 5
Bartholomew Summers, aged 27, who arrived in New York in 1774 5
Jannet Summers, aged 32, who arrived in New York in 1775 5

Summers Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Samuel S Summers, who arrived in New York in 1800 5
Peter Summers, aged 26, who landed in New York in 1812 5
William Thomas Summers, who arrived in Virginia in 1836 5
John D Summers, who arrived in Mississippi in 1838 5
James Summers, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Summers migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Summers Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Paul Summers U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on October 26, 1783 was passenger number 168 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on September 28, 1783 at Staten Island, New York, USA 6
Mr. Andrew Summers U.E. who settled in Charlottenburgh Township [South Glengarry], Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Royal Regiment of New York 6
Mr. Jacob Summers U.E. who settled in Charlottenburgh Township [South Glengarry], Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Royal Regiment of New York 6

Summers Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Bridget Summers, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1821
Benjamin Summers, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1829
Martin Summers, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1841

Summers migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Summers Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Thomas Summers, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. John Summers, English convict who was convicted in Gloucestershire, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 10th August 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 8
Mr. Stephen Summers, English convict who was convicted in Essex, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 8th December 1839, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Sarah Summers, aged 29, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Trafalgar" 10
Samuel Summers, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Anna Maria" in 1849 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Summers migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Summers Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr Summers, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Clydeside
Andrew Summers, aged 22, a baker, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Mariner" in 1849
Jessie Summers, aged 22, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Mariner" in 1849
Mr. William Summers, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Mary Ann" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 24th September 1858 12
Miss Susan Summers, (b. 1835), aged 23, Scottish domestic servant from Scotland travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Zealandia" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1858 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Summers (post 1700) +

Anita Arrow Summers (1925-2023), American educator of public policy, management, real estate and education and was Professor Emerita at the University of Pennsylvania
Gene Summers (1939-2021), born David Eugene Summers, an American rock singer, known for Gene Summers & The Tom Toms
John William Summers (1870-1937), U.S. Representative from Washington, father of Hope Summers, the actress
Hope Summers (1896-1979), born Sarah Hope Summers, an American character actress, best known for her role as Clara Edwards on CBS's The Andy Griffith Show and MayBerry RFD
George William Summers (1804-1868), American lawyer and politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Virginia (1841-1843)
Oron Edgar Summers (1884-1953), nicknamed "Kickapoo Ed", American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1908 to 1912
John Junior "Champ" Summers (1946-2012), American Major League Baseball player
William Ray "Bill" Summers (1935-2011), American car builder who with his brother Bob designed and built the Goldenrod, which held the wheel-driven land speed record from 1965 to 1991
Robert Summers (1922-2012), U.S. economist and professor emeritus, University of Pennsylvania
William Reed "Bill" Summers (1895-1966), American Major League Baseball umpire who worked in the American League from 1933 to 1959
... (Another 17 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Summers family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. John Summers (d. 1914), British Greaser from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 14

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Henry Whitelaw Summers, British Marine, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 15

USS Arizona

Mr. Glen Allen Summers, American Yeoman First Class from Washington, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 16
Mr. Harold Edgar Summers, American Signalman Second Class from Ohio, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 16

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 23rd August 2020 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The TRAFALGAR 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Trafalgar.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The ANNA MARIA 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849AnnaMaria.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html