NameCensus.

UK surname

Sommerville

A locational surname referring to someone from Sommerville, a place derived from Old French meaning "summer town."

In the 1881 census there were 1,210 people recorded with the Sommerville surname, ranking it #3,337 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,531, ranked #4,045, down from #3,337 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Viewpark, Carstairs, Carstairs Junction and Carnwath and Stonehouse.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sommerville is 1,608 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.5%.

1881 census count

1,210

Ranked #3,337

Modern count

1,531

2016, ranked #4,045

Peak year

2010

1,608 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sommerville had 1,210 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,337 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,531 in 2016, ranked #4,045.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,488 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Sommerville surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sommerville surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sommerville 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 740 #3,560
1861 historical 877 #3,166
1881 historical 1,210 #3,337
1891 historical 1,374 #3,161
1901 historical 1,488 #3,440
1911 historical 216 #14,240
1997 modern 1,567 #3,763
1998 modern 1,600 #3,843
1999 modern 1,597 #3,884
2000 modern 1,601 #3,858
2001 modern 1,529 #3,924
2002 modern 1,562 #3,943
2003 modern 1,536 #3,914
2004 modern 1,534 #3,927
2005 modern 1,522 #3,900
2006 modern 1,543 #3,850
2007 modern 1,582 #3,803
2008 modern 1,598 #3,795
2009 modern 1,607 #3,862
2010 modern 1,608 #3,940
2011 modern 1,573 #3,975
2012 modern 1,551 #3,958
2013 modern 1,540 #4,053
2014 modern 1,555 #4,036
2015 modern 1,539 #4,032
2016 modern 1,531 #4,045

Geography

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Where Sommervilles are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Viewpark, Carstairs, Carstairs Junction and Carnwath, Stonehouse, Cleland and Carluke East. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 Edinburgh Edinburgh
3 Glasgow Lanark
4 Cambusnethan Lanark
5 Carluke Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Viewpark North Lanarkshire
2 Carstairs, Carstairs Junction and Carnwath South Lanarkshire
3 Stonehouse South Lanarkshire
4 Cleland North Lanarkshire
5 Carluke East South Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sommerville

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sommerville

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Sommerville, 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 Sommerville surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Sommerville 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, Sommerville 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

Sommerville 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

Sommerville falls in decile 5 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Sommerville is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Sommerville

The surname Sommerville originates from the Scottish Borders region, deriving its name from the lands of Somerville near West Calder in West Lothian, Scotland. The name is believed to have emerged in the 12th century, with the earliest recorded spelling being "de Sumervill" in 1165.

The name Sommerville is thought to be derived from the Old English words "sumer" meaning summer and "feld" meaning field or open land, suggesting that the name likely referred to a summer pasture or dwelling place. Variants of the spelling include Somervill, Somerville, and Sommervile.

One of the earliest references to the Sommerville name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which recorded those who swore fealty to King Edward I of England. In this document, the name appears as "Thomas de Somervill" and "Walter de Somervill."

In the 14th century, Sir Walter de Somerville was a prominent Scottish noble who fought alongside Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence. He was granted lands in Lanarkshire for his loyalty and bravery.

Another notable figure was Sir John Somerville, who was born around 1370 and served as Lord of Carnwath. He played a significant role in the negotiations for the release of King James I of Scotland after his captivity in England.

In the 16th century, James Somerville (1504-1565) was a Scottish Protestant reformer and ambassador to France. He was appointed Clerk Register to the Privy Council of Scotland and was influential in the spread of Protestantism in Scotland.

During the 17th century, William Somerville (1675-1742) was a renowned English poet and author, best known for his work "The Chase," a poetic celebration of hunting. He was also a member of the Royal Society and a Justice of the Peace in Warwickshire.

Another notable figure was Mary Somerville (1780-1872), a Scottish science writer and pioneer in the field of science education. She was one of the first women to be admitted to the Royal Astronomical Society and made significant contributions to the popularization of science through her writings.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sommerville families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sommerville 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 570 Sommervilles recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.30x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 570 15.30x
Midlothian 171 11.08x
West Lothian 77 44.38x
Renfrewshire 56 6.27x
Ayrshire 33 3.83x
Peeblesshire 29 53.52x
Perthshire 22 4.25x
Middlesex 19 0.16x
Stirlingshire 19 4.47x
Buteshire 15 21.49x
Dunbartonshire 14 4.52x
Lancashire 14 0.10x
Clackmannanshire 11 11.56x
Fife 10 1.47x
Orkney 10 7.89x
Aberdeenshire 9 0.84x
Angus 9 0.84x
Durham 9 0.26x
Essex 9 0.40x
Norfolk 9 0.51x
Somerset 9 0.49x
Argyllshire 8 2.49x
Hampshire 8 0.34x
Gloucestershire 6 0.27x
Northumberland 6 0.35x
Cumberland 4 0.40x
Kirkcudbrightshire 4 2.40x
Surrey 3 0.05x
Worcestershire 3 0.20x
Yorkshire 3 0.03x
Channel Islands 2 0.59x
Dumfriesshire 2 0.79x
Kinross-shire 2 6.87x
Selkirkshire 2 1.92x
Berwickshire 1 0.72x
East Lothian 1 0.66x
Royal Navy 1 0.73x
Staffordshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 89 Sommervilles recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.44x.

Place Total Index
Barony 89 9.44x
Govan 85 9.22x
Glasgow 53 8.01x
Whitburn 52 207.50x
Carluke 45 133.02x
Shotts 44 98.68x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 41 6.60x
Cambusnethan 37 44.71x
Lesmahagow 28 71.07x
Bothwell 26 25.73x
Avondale 25 114.78x
Old Monkland 24 16.23x
West Calder 20 65.75x
South Leith 19 10.94x
Crawford 17 244.60x
West Greenock 16 9.98x
Crawfordjohn 14 420.42x
Inveresk 14 33.50x
Peebles 14 87.45x
Lasswade 13 36.84x
Cumbrae 12 163.49x
Hamilton 12 11.55x
Maryhill 12 16.45x
Bathgate 11 29.21x
Glencorse 11 185.50x
Auckinleck 10 37.47x
Carstairs 10 129.53x
Dalserf 10 26.90x
Kirkwall St Ola 10 52.69x
North Leith 10 14.00x
Cambuslang 9 23.96x
Cockpen 9 49.89x
Covington 9 514.29x
Gateshead 9 3.51x
Loudoun 9 43.42x
Middle Greenock 9 36.95x
Norwich All Sts 9 604.03x
Roseneath 9 151.52x
Rutherglen 9 16.47x
West Ham 9 1.79x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 8 4.01x
Campbeltown 8 20.68x
Colinton 8 46.48x
Penicuik 8 38.15x
Tillicoultry 8 37.81x
Abbey 7 5.14x
Creech St Michael 7 151.19x
Dalkeith 7 22.99x
Liff Benvie 7 4.32x
Livingstone 7 118.24x
Berwick Upon Tweed 6 16.52x
Port Glasgow 6 13.90x
Renfrew 6 20.35x
Southampton St Mary 6 4.04x
St Ninians 6 14.25x
Eddleston 5 177.31x
Kilbarchan 5 18.44x
Kilsyth 5 18.46x
Liverpool 5 0.60x
Logie 5 26.95x
West Linton 5 113.12x
Beath 4 18.56x
Beith 4 15.55x
Bitton 4 20.34x
Blantyre 4 10.31x
Campsie 4 17.15x
Crieff 4 20.80x
Dysart 4 8.71x
East Greenock 4 4.74x
Hampstead London 4 2.23x
Islington London 4 0.36x
Pendleton In Salford 4 2.46x
Perth West Church 4 16.30x
Queensferry 4 94.34x
Rickergate 4 19.06x
Stevenston 4 17.80x
Alloa 3 6.50x
Auchterarder 3 20.79x
Edinburgh St Georges 3 9.37x
Kilbucho 3 361.45x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Sommerville surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sommerville surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,210 people were recorded with the Sommerville surname. That placed it at #3,337 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sommerville surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,531 in 2016. That gives Sommerville a modern rank of #4,045.

What does the Sommerville surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Sommerville, a place derived from Old French meaning "summer town."

What does the Sommerville map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sommerville 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.