UK surname
A locative surname referring to someone from the ancient region of Sumer in Mesopotamia.
In the 1881 census there were 21 people recorded with the Sumer surname, ranking it #30,609 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 48, ranked #35,004, down from #30,609 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Bury, St Leonard Shoreditch and Wigan. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sumer is 194 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 128.6%.
1881 census count
21
Ranked #30,609
Modern count
48
2016, ranked #35,004
Peak year
1861
194 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Sumer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Sumer surname density by area, 1891 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 | 105 | #16,618 |
| 1861 | historical | 194 | #12,310 |
| 1881 | historical | 21 | #30,609 |
| 1891 | historical | 135 | #19,692 |
| 1901 | historical | 18 | #32,032 |
| 1911 | historical | 14 | #32,045 |
| 1997 | modern | 19 | #35,928 |
| 1998 | modern | 25 | #35,365 |
| 1999 | modern | 21 | #35,810 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 22 | #35,531 |
| 2002 | modern | 25 | #35,428 |
| 2003 | modern | 24 | #35,552 |
| 2004 | modern | 27 | #35,444 |
| 2005 | modern | 29 | #35,431 |
| 2006 | modern | 31 | #35,467 |
| 2007 | modern | 32 | #35,530 |
| 2008 | modern | 35 | #35,441 |
| 2009 | modern | 44 | #35,028 |
| 2010 | modern | 43 | #35,233 |
| 2011 | modern | 47 | #34,989 |
| 2012 | modern | 46 | #35,053 |
| 2013 | modern | 49 | #34,952 |
| 2014 | modern | 51 | #34,865 |
| 2015 | modern | 51 | #34,834 |
| 2016 | modern | 48 | #35,004 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Bury, St Leonard Shoreditch, Wigan, Lambeth and Liverpool. 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 | Bury | Lancashire |
| 2 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 3 | Wigan | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Sumer 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 Sumer, 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 Sumer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Sumer 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, Sumer 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 Sumer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Sumer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Sumer originated in the Middle East, specifically in the region known as Mesopotamia, which is located in modern-day Iraq. It dates back to the 4th millennium BC, when the Sumerian civilization flourished in the area between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
The name Sumer is derived from the Akkadian word "Shumerû," which means "the land of the civilized kings." This reflects the Sumerians' reputation as one of the earliest known civilizations in the world, renowned for their advancements in writing, architecture, and city-building.
Historical references to the name Sumer can be found in various ancient Mesopotamian texts and cuneiform inscriptions. One notable example is the "Epic of Gilgamesh," an epic poem from ancient Mesopotamia, which mentions the city-state of Sumer and its inhabitants.
The earliest recorded examples of the name Sumer can be traced back to the Sumerian period, around 3500 BC to 2000 BC. During this time, the region was divided into several city-states, such as Uruk, Ur, and Lagash, which were governed by rulers who bore the title "King of Sumer."
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals with the surname Sumer. One of the most famous was Shulgi, a Sumerian king who ruled the city-state of Ur from around 2094 BC to 2047 BC. He was known for his military conquests and for commissioning numerous building projects, including the construction of the Great Ziggurat of Ur.
Another renowned figure was Enheduanna, a Sumerian princess and high priestess who lived around 2300 BC. She is considered the world's first known author, having composed a collection of hymns and poems dedicated to the Sumerian goddess Inanna.
In the 19th century, a British archaeologist named Austen Henry Layard played a crucial role in rediscovering the ancient Sumerian civilization. During his excavations in the 1840s, he unearthed the remains of the city of Nineveh, which contained numerous Sumerian artifacts and cuneiform tablets.
In the early 20th century, a German archaeologist named Walter Andrae led excavations at the ancient Sumerian city of Uruk, uncovering remarkable finds, including the famous Uruk Vase and the Mask of Warka.
Another notable figure was Samuel Noah Kramer, an American scholar and Sumerologist who made significant contributions to the study and understanding of the Sumerian language and culture in the mid-20th century.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sumer 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. Brecknockshire leads with 6 Sumers recorded in 1881 and an index of 146.34x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Brecknockshire | 6 | 146.34x |
| Suffolk | 4 | 16.04x |
| Staffordshire | 3 | 4.34x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.82x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.98x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 2.21x |
| Durham | 1 | 1.64x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 1.94x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.49x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hay in Brecknockshire leads with 6 Sumers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hay | 6 | 4000.00x |
| Groton | 4 | 13333.33x |
| Audley Talk O Th Hill | 3 | 2500.00x |
| Attercliffe Cum Darnall | 1 | 52.91x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 5.81x |
| Conside Knitsley | 1 | 212.77x |
| Hammersmith London | 1 | 19.84x |
| Higher Bebington | 1 | 344.83x |
| Oldham | 1 | 12.76x |
| Reddish | 1 | 303.03x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 11.26x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Sumer 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 Sumer 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 Sumer households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| General Labr | 2 |
| Plain Server | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| ((Scholar)) | 1 |
| (Dom Servant) | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Coal Porter | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Kitchenmaid Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Saddler | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 21 people were recorded with the Sumer surname. That placed it at #30,609 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 48 in 2016. That gives Sumer a modern rank of #35,004.
A locative surname referring to someone from the ancient region of Sumer in Mesopotamia.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Sumer 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.