UK surname
An occupational surname for a maker or seller of samite fabric.
In the 1881 census there were 5 people recorded with the Sammer surname, ranking it #33,110 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 10, ranked #37,599, down from #33,110 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Lugwardine and Westwell. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sammer is 117 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.0%.
1881 census count
5
Ranked #33,110
Modern count
10
2016, ranked #37,599
Peak year
1861
117 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sammer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sammer surname density by area, 1861 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 7 | #32,070 |
| 1861 | historical | 117 | #18,635 |
| 1881 | historical | 5 | #33,110 |
| 1891 | historical | 74 | #27,538 |
| 1901 | historical | 19 | #31,911 |
| 1911 | historical | 14 | #32,045 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 6 | #37,696 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 7 | #37,379 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 7 | #37,496 |
| 2005 | modern | 7 | #37,581 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 8 | #37,572 |
| 2008 | modern | 8 | #37,597 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 9 | #37,614 |
| 2013 | modern | 8 | #37,767 |
| 2014 | modern | 7 | #37,929 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 10 | #37,599 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Lugwardine, Westwell, Brenchley and Challock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prestbury | Cheshire |
| 2 | Lugwardine | Herefordshire |
| 3 | Westwell | Kent |
| 4 | Brenchley | Kent |
| 5 | Challock | Kent |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sammer surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sammer, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Sammer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sammer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Sammer is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sammer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sammer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SAMMER is of German origin, first appearing in records from the 16th century in the southern regions of Germany. It is thought to be derived from the German word "Sommer," meaning summer, suggesting the name may have originally referred to someone born or living during the summer months.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the SAMMER name dates back to 1527, when a Johann Sammer was mentioned in a church registry in the town of Augsburg, Bavaria. Another early record is from 1583, where a Hans Sammer is listed as a landowner in the village of Lauingen, located in the Swabian region.
In the 17th century, the name SAMMER began appearing in various areas of Germany, including the northern states. A Samuel Sammer, born in 1632, was a respected scholar and theologian from the city of Hamburg. His writings on theology and philosophy were widely circulated during his lifetime.
As the centuries progressed, the SAMMER name spread to other parts of Europe. In the late 18th century, a notable figure was Johann Friedrich Sammer, a German-born artist who lived and worked in Italy from 1780 until his death in 1818. His paintings and frescoes adorned churches and palaces across Italy.
Another individual of note was Karl Sammer, a German military officer who served in the Prussian Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He was awarded the Iron Cross for his bravery in the Battle of Leipzig in 1813.
In the 19th century, the SAMMER name found its way to the United States through German immigration. One of the earliest recorded American SAMMERs was Johann Sammer, who arrived in Philadelphia in 1832 from the Rhine region of Germany.
As the name spread across Europe and to other continents, variations in spelling emerged, such as Somer, Somner, and Sommer, though the original German form of SAMMER remained prevalent.
Throughout its history, the SAMMER surname has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, artists, military leaders, and immigrants seeking new opportunities in far-flung lands.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sammer surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 1 Sammers recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.04x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Kent | 1 | 6.04x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 2.06x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 13.85x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 6.11x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 8.18x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edgbaston in Warwickshire leads with 1 Sammers recorded in 1881 and an index of 263.16x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Edgbaston | 1 | 263.16x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 131.58x |
| Maidstone | 1 | 204.08x |
| Newcastle On Tyne | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Walsall Foreign | 1 | 117.65x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sammer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Sammer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Sammer households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| (D) | 1 |
| Cook (D) | 1 |
| Farm Labourer Indoor | 1 |
| Police In Training (Officer) | 1 |
| Stuard (Steward) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 5 people were recorded with the Sammer surname. That placed it at #33,110 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 10 in 2016. That gives Sammer a modern rank of #37,599.
An occupational surname for a maker or seller of samite fabric.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sammer bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.