NameCensus.

UK surname

Somerville

From the Old French "somer" meaning summer and "ville" meaning town, referring to a pleasant summer settlement.

In the 1881 census there were 2,533 people recorded with the Somerville surname, ranking it #1,764 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,694, ranked #1,849, down from #1,764 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanark, Govan Combination and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forth, Braehead and Auchengray, Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Somerville is 3,787 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 45.8%.

1881 census count

2,533

Ranked #1,764

Modern count

3,694

2016, ranked #1,849

Peak year

2010

3,787 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Somerville had 2,533 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,764 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,694 in 2016, ranked #1,849.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,139 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Somerville surname distribution map

The map shows where the Somerville surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Somerville surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Somerville over time

The 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 1,618 #1,778
1861 historical 1,694 #1,689
1881 historical 2,533 #1,764
1891 historical 2,736 #1,728
1901 historical 3,139 #1,788
1911 historical 1,306 #3,651
1997 modern 3,557 #1,821
1998 modern 3,674 #1,833
1999 modern 3,715 #1,831
2000 modern 3,670 #1,838
2001 modern 3,556 #1,862
2002 modern 3,654 #1,853
2003 modern 3,546 #1,862
2004 modern 3,553 #1,857
2005 modern 3,532 #1,851
2006 modern 3,588 #1,821
2007 modern 3,626 #1,813
2008 modern 3,630 #1,822
2009 modern 3,723 #1,824
2010 modern 3,787 #1,840
2011 modern 3,699 #1,858
2012 modern 3,641 #1,853
2013 modern 3,688 #1,860
2014 modern 3,742 #1,848
2015 modern 3,676 #1,863
2016 modern 3,694 #1,849

Geography

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Where Somervilles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanark, Govan Combination, London parishes, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forth, Braehead and Auchengray, Gateshead, Newcastle upon Tyne, Tollcross and Great Junction Street. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lanark Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 London parishes London 3
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forth, Braehead and Auchengray South Lanarkshire
2 Gateshead 004 Gateshead
3 Newcastle upon Tyne 003 Newcastle upon Tyne
4 Tollcross City of Edinburgh
5 Great Junction Street City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Somerville

These lists show first names that appear often with the Somerville surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Somerville

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Somerville, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Somerville surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Somerville household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Somerville is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Somerville is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Somerville falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Somerville is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Somerville, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Somerville

The surname Somerville is of English origin, derived from the place name Somerville, a parish in Wiltshire, England. The name is believed to have originated in the late 11th or early 12th century, after the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.

The name Somerville is formed from the Old English words "sumor," meaning summer, and "feld," meaning a field or open land. It likely referred to a specific area or settlement where crops were grown during the summer months. The earliest recorded spelling of the place name is found in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Summerfeld."

One of the earliest recorded bearers of the surname was Robert de Somervile, a Norman knight who lived in the 12th century. He was granted lands in Staffordshire, England, and his descendants adopted the surname Somerville. Another early mention of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1190, where a Richard de Somervile is listed.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Somerville. Sir John Somerville (1560-1583) was an English soldier and courtier who served under Queen Elizabeth I. William Somerville (1675-1742) was a Scottish poet best known for his work "The Chase," a poem about hunting. Mary Somerville (1780-1872) was a Scottish science writer and pioneering female scientist, renowned for her work in mathematics and astronomy.

Other notable Somervilles include Graham Somerville (1915-1994), an English actor and playwright, and Sir Iain Somerville (1917-1985), a British naval officer who served during World War II and later became a successful businessman.

The Somerville family also played a significant role in the colonization of America. Sir James Somerville (1672-1741) was a British naval officer who served as the first royal governor of the Bahamas from 1701 to 1704. His descendants settled in various parts of the American colonies, contributing to the spread of the surname across the United States.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Somerville families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Somerville surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 750 Somervilles recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.54x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 750 9.54x
Midlothian 406 12.46x
Middlesex 159 0.65x
Lancashire 90 0.31x
Surrey 84 0.71x
Renfrewshire 74 3.93x
Ayrshire 73 4.01x
Dunbartonshire 59 9.03x
Stirlingshire 59 6.58x
Perthshire 56 5.13x
Northumberland 52 1.44x
Durham 50 0.69x
Cheshire 43 0.80x
Fife 41 2.85x
Peeblesshire 40 34.97x
West Lothian 40 10.92x
Cumberland 29 1.39x
Yorkshire 27 0.11x
Berwickshire 26 8.83x
Devon 25 0.49x
East Lothian 24 7.45x
Berkshire 22 1.21x
Warwickshire 21 0.34x
Essex 19 0.40x
Hampshire 19 0.38x
Kent 19 0.23x
Selkirkshire 16 7.27x
Clackmannanshire 15 7.47x
Argyllshire 14 2.07x
Staffordshire 14 0.17x
Gloucestershire 13 0.27x
Worcestershire 13 0.41x
Angus 11 0.49x
Leicestershire 11 0.41x
Dumfriesshire 10 1.86x
Roxburghshire 10 2.27x
Sussex 7 0.17x
Buteshire 6 4.07x
Somerset 6 0.15x
Kincardineshire 5 1.69x
Norfolk 5 0.13x
Suffolk 5 0.17x
Aberdeenshire 4 0.18x
Royal Navy 4 1.38x
Kinross-shire 3 4.88x
Lincolnshire 3 0.08x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 0.57x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.36x
Cornwall 1 0.04x
Dorset 1 0.06x
Morayshire 1 0.26x
Oxfordshire 1 0.07x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.13x
Shropshire 1 0.05x
Wiltshire 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 192 Somervilles recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.65x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 192 14.65x
Barony 174 8.74x
Govan 114 5.86x
Glasgow 99 7.09x
Carnwath 49 100.76x
South Leith 39 10.64x
Lanark 35 55.31x
Camberwell 31 2.00x
Lesmahagow 30 36.07x
St Pancras London 30 1.53x
Kirkintilloch 27 30.41x
Dalkeith 24 37.34x
Bishopwearmouth 22 3.54x
Cambusnethan 22 12.59x
Rutherglen 21 18.20x
Carstairs 18 110.50x
Dunfermline 18 8.13x
Monkton Prestwick 18 101.64x
Old Monkland 17 5.45x
Falkirk 16 7.62x
St Luke London 16 4.10x
Edinburgh St Stephens 15 23.39x
Innerleithen 15 49.41x
Culter 14 292.89x
Eastwood 14 12.06x
Everton 14 1.52x
Glencorse 14 111.91x
Hamilton 14 6.38x
Walston 14 494.70x
Bothwell 13 6.10x
Kilwinning 13 22.12x
Liverpool 13 0.74x
Maryhill 13 8.44x
St Ninians 13 14.62x
Toxteth Park 13 1.33x
Aston 12 0.71x
Caldewgate 12 10.46x
Clerkenwell London 12 2.09x
Lasswade 12 16.11x
Peebles 12 35.49x
Cadder 11 18.94x
Linlithgow 11 23.42x
New Monkland 11 4.73x
Slamannan 11 22.40x
St Marylebone London 11 0.85x
Streatham 11 6.10x
Auchterarder 10 32.82x
Dumbarton 10 10.99x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 10 12.98x
Edinburgh Greenside 10 23.23x
Galashiels 10 12.29x
Hackney London 10 0.73x
Islington London 10 0.42x
Lambeth 10 0.47x
Lauder 10 61.46x
Newcastle On Tyne St 10 5.33x
Portsea 10 1.02x
St Giles In Fields 10 11.92x
Strathmiglo 10 58.11x
Tranent 10 22.98x
West Greenock 10 2.96x
West Ham 10 0.94x
Berwick Upon Tweed 9 11.74x
Charlton 9 426.54x
Colinton 9 24.77x
East Greenock 9 5.06x
Irvine 9 17.80x
Libberton 9 172.41x
Old Kilpatrick 9 11.65x
Reading St Giles 9 5.03x
Shotts 9 9.56x
St Quivox 9 14.63x
Battersea 8 0.89x
Dollar 8 38.44x
East Kilbride 8 23.75x
Hampstead London 8 2.11x
Leeds 8 0.59x
Mid Calder 8 56.66x
Penicuik 8 18.07x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 8 12.96x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Somerville surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Somerville surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 49
William 41
George 29
James 29
Thomas 19
Charles 18
Robert 16
Henry 14
Samuel 10
Francis 7
David 6
Arthur 5
Frank 5
Robt. 5
Alexander 4
Alfred 4
Andrew 4
Edward 4
Joseph 4
Frederick 3
Fredk. 3
Harry 3
Jas. 3
Richard 3
Stafford 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Archibald 2
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
Edwin 2
Frederic 2
Geo. 2
Hugh 2
J. 2
Philip 2
Ralph 2
W. 2
Wm. 2
Alice 1
Alick 1
Benj. 1
Bertie 1
C. 1
Edgar 1
Edmund 1
Egerton 1
Ellen 1
Ernest 1
Jn.Hy. 1

FAQ

Somerville surname: questions and answers

How common was the Somerville surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,533 people were recorded with the Somerville surname. That placed it at #1,764 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Somerville surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,694 in 2016. That gives Somerville a modern rank of #1,849.

What does the Somerville surname mean?

From the Old French "somer" meaning summer and "ville" meaning town, referring to a pleasant summer settlement.

What does the Somerville map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Somerville bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.