NameCensus.

UK surname

Summer

An occupational surname referring to a summoner, derived from the Old French "somier" meaning an animal driver or pack horse leader.

In the 1881 census there were 694 people recorded with the Summer surname, ranking it #5,224 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 380, ranked #12,346, down from #5,224 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, North Meols and Wilmslow. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wiltshire, Kensington and Chelsea and Solihull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Summer is 2,940 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 45.2%.

1881 census count

694

Ranked #5,224

Modern count

380

2016, ranked #12,346

Peak year

1911

2,940 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Summer had 694 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,224 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 380 in 2016, ranked #12,346.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,940 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Summer surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Summer surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Summer 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 857 #3,177
1861 historical 1,600 #1,779
1881 historical 694 #5,224
1891 historical 2,346 #2,002
1901 historical 701 #6,281
1911 historical 2,940 #1,770
1997 modern 355 #12,040
1998 modern 313 #13,504
1999 modern 276 #14,762
2000 modern 232 #16,562
2001 modern 171 #19,770
2002 modern 170 #20,243
2003 modern 169 #20,092
2004 modern 193 #18,622
2005 modern 201 #18,080
2006 modern 223 #17,036
2007 modern 231 #16,835
2008 modern 245 #16,295
2009 modern 272 #15,475
2010 modern 305 #14,561
2011 modern 277 #15,433
2012 modern 296 #14,635
2013 modern 327 #13,868
2014 modern 355 #13,125
2015 modern 360 #12,880
2016 modern 380 #12,346

Geography

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Where Summers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, North Meols, Wilmslow and Preston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wiltshire, Kensington and Chelsea, Solihull, Swansea and Harrow. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 North Meols Lancashire
4 Wilmslow Cheshire
5 Preston Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wiltshire 001 Wiltshire
2 Kensington and Chelsea 013 Kensington and Chelsea
3 Solihull 015 Solihull
4 Swansea 030 Swansea
5 Harrow 004 Harrow

Forenames

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First names often paired with Summer

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Summer

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Summer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Summer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Summer is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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 neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Summer is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Summer falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Summer 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 Summer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Summer

The surname "SUMMER" is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, likely derived from the Old English word "sumor," meaning the season of summer. This name was likely given as a nickname or descriptive name to someone who was born or had a significant event occur during the summer months.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname "SUMMER" can be found in various historical records from the 13th and 14th centuries. For example, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275 mention a Robert le Sumere, and the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 record a John Sumer in Oxfordshire.

In the 15th century, the surname appears in various ecclesiastical records, such as the Register of the Gild of the Holy Trinity in Coventry from 1453, which lists a Richard Somer. The Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524 also include a John Somer from Gloucestershire.

As the name spread across England, it evolved into different spellings, including Somer, Sommer, and Somers. Some of these variations were influenced by place names, such as Somerton in Somerset, which may have contributed to the Somerton or Sommerton spellings.

Notable historical figures with the surname "SUMMER" include:

1. Sir George Somers (c. 1554-1610), an English naval officer and colonist who was instrumental in the early settlement of Bermuda. 2. William Somers (c. 1540-1589), an English academic and clergyman who served as the Master of Peterhouse, Cambridge. 3. John Somers, 1st Baron Somers (1651-1716), an English Whig jurist and politician who served as Lord Chancellor of England. 4. John Somers, 2nd Baron Somers (1685-1766), a British nobleman and politician who served as Lord President of the Council. 5. Mary Somerville (1780-1872), a Scottish science writer and polymath who contributed significantly to the study of astronomy and geography.

While the surname "SUMMER" has a long history in England, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and settlement, becoming a common surname in various countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Summer families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Summer 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. Lancashire leads with 170 Summers recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.14x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 170 2.14x
Middlesex 116 1.73x
Warwickshire 60 3.55x
Surrey 51 1.56x
Staffordshire 31 1.37x
Cheshire 28 1.89x
Kent 28 1.22x
Essex 20 1.51x
Yorkshire 18 0.27x
Somerset 14 1.30x
Hampshire 13 0.95x
Gloucestershire 11 0.84x
Sussex 11 0.97x
Monmouthshire 10 2.06x
Nottinghamshire 10 1.11x
Ayrshire 9 1.79x
Clackmannanshire 8 14.45x
Devon 8 0.57x
Norfolk 7 0.68x
Suffolk 7 0.86x
Berkshire 6 1.19x
Lanarkshire 6 0.28x
Lincolnshire 5 0.47x
Angus 4 0.64x
Glamorgan 4 0.34x
Leicestershire 4 0.54x
West Lothian 4 3.96x
Fife 3 0.76x
Hertfordshire 3 0.65x
Northumberland 3 0.30x
Carmarthenshire 2 0.71x
Denbighshire 2 0.79x
Derbyshire 2 0.19x
Northamptonshire 2 0.32x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.16x
Dorset 1 0.23x
Durham 1 0.05x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.75x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 1.03x
Royal Navy 1 1.25x
Worcestershire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 32 Summers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.68x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 32 5.68x
Windle 32 71.52x
Islington London 18 2.77x
Westleigh 13 71.98x
Bromley London 12 8.14x
Paddington London 12 4.87x
Chelsea London 11 5.45x
Southwark St George Martyr 10 7.42x
Walsall Foreign 10 8.56x
Aspull 9 48.10x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 7.12x
Kilmarnock 9 15.08x
North Meols 9 11.56x
Barton Upon Irwell 8 13.36x
Brushford 8 1066.67x
Clackmannan 8 76.48x
Ealing 8 13.36x
Kingston On Thames 8 10.20x
Levenshulme 8 97.80x
Preston 8 3.76x
Walthamstow 8 16.80x
Battersea 7 2.84x
Deptford St Paul 7 3.97x
Leyland 7 50.58x
Mile End Old Town 7 6.62x
Nantwich 7 40.72x
Newport 7 30.29x
Ormskirk 7 45.99x
Wigan 7 6.30x
Aston 6 1.29x
Audley 6 26.81x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 6 4.85x
Elton 6 21.83x
Exeter St Thomas The 6 42.19x
Great Crosby 6 27.68x
Greenwich 6 5.62x
Ifield 6 127.39x
Leatherhead 6 73.35x
Nottingham St Mary 6 2.57x
Plumstead 6 7.87x
Wanstead 6 25.90x
West Ham 6 2.05x
Coventry Holy Trinity 5 9.91x
Edmonton 5 9.26x
Heigham 5 9.04x
Kingsbury Episcopi 5 143.27x
Macclesfield 5 7.60x
Petworth 5 74.07x
Wimbledon 5 13.64x
Boness 4 28.76x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 4 26.11x
Cannock 4 10.13x
Cheltenham 4 3.94x
Chorley 4 8.96x
Great Harwood 4 27.84x
Hindley 4 11.80x
Hyde 4 9.16x
Kensington London 4 1.07x
Leamington Priors 4 9.62x
Mansfield Woodhouse 4 66.56x
Nether Hallam 4 4.45x
Newington 4 1.62x
Norwood 4 26.11x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 4 23.52x
Shoreditch London 4 1.38x
St Bartholomew Great 4 65.57x
St Pancras London 4 0.74x
Tysoe 4 174.67x
West Derby 4 1.72x
Worsley 4 8.16x
Barony 3 0.55x
Bury St Edmunds St James 3 13.76x
Christchurch 3 10.07x
Cliffe 3 58.14x
Edgbaston 3 5.73x
Fulshaw 3 110.29x
Hornsey 3 3.54x
Portsea 3 1.11x
Wappenbury 3 566.04x
West Bromwich 3 2.32x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 37
James 34
John 29
George 22
Charles 15
Thomas 15
Frederick 10
Henry 10
Samuel 10
Alfred 9
Joseph 9
Robert 9
Edwin 5
Benjamin 4
Wm. 4
Albert 3
Edward 3
Harold 3
Isaac 3
Joshua 3
Sydney 3
Arthur 2
Charlie 2
Daniel 2
Ernest 2
Harry 2
Leonard 2
Otto 2
Philip 2
Richard 2
Walter 2
Willie 2
Ashton 1
Bishop 1
Chas. 1
Chls. 1
Clifford 1
Edwd. 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Franz 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
J.Henry 1
Jas. 1
Jesse 1
Jonathan 1
Louis 1
Marcus 1
Wm.R. 1

FAQ

Summer surname: questions and answers

How common was the Summer surname in 1881?

In 1881, 694 people were recorded with the Summer surname. That placed it at #5,224 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Summer surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 380 in 2016. That gives Summer a modern rank of #12,346.

What does the Summer surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a summoner, derived from the Old French "somier" meaning an animal driver or pack horse leader.

What does the Summer map show?

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