NameCensus.

UK surname

Summerfield

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a field that was used during the summer months.

In the 1881 census there were 1,940 people recorded with the Summerfield surname, ranking it #2,253 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,038, ranked #2,215, up from #2,253 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Blaenau Gwent, Central Bedfordshire and Isle of Anglesey.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Summerfield is 3,205 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 56.6%.

1881 census count

1,940

Ranked #2,253

Modern count

3,038

2016, ranked #2,215

Peak year

1998

3,205 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Summerfield had 1,940 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,253 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,038 in 2016, ranked #2,215.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,956 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Summerfield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Summerfield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Summerfield 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 933 #2,966
1861 historical 1,114 #2,518
1881 historical 1,940 #2,253
1891 historical 2,242 #2,081
1901 historical 2,552 #2,156
1911 historical 2,956 #1,757
1997 modern 3,069 #2,093
1998 modern 3,205 #2,093
1999 modern 3,201 #2,108
2000 modern 3,170 #2,122
2001 modern 3,103 #2,114
2002 modern 3,127 #2,151
2003 modern 3,076 #2,131
2004 modern 3,065 #2,141
2005 modern 2,977 #2,175
2006 modern 2,955 #2,192
2007 modern 2,956 #2,212
2008 modern 2,985 #2,198
2009 modern 3,060 #2,202
2010 modern 3,099 #2,229
2011 modern 3,015 #2,264
2012 modern 2,995 #2,225
2013 modern 3,056 #2,224
2014 modern 3,096 #2,205
2015 modern 3,057 #2,212
2016 modern 3,038 #2,215

Geography

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Where Summerfields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Manchester and Cardington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Blaenau Gwent, Central Bedfordshire, Isle of Anglesey, Trafford and Derbyshire Dales. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Cardington Bedfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Blaenau Gwent 006 Blaenau Gwent
2 Central Bedfordshire 008 Central Bedfordshire
3 Isle of Anglesey 007 Isle of Anglesey
4 Trafford 022 Trafford
5 Derbyshire Dales 005 Derbyshire Dales

Forenames

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First names often paired with Summerfield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Summerfield

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Summerfield, 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 Summerfield surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Summerfield 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Summerfield 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

Summerfield is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Summerfield falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Summerfield is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Summerfield

The surname Summerfield is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "sumor" meaning summer and "feld" meaning field or open land. It likely originated as a place name for a location characterized by its fertile summer fields or meadows.

The earliest recorded instances of the name date back to the 13th century, with references found in old tax rolls and parish records. One notable early record is from the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275, which mentions a Robert de Summerfield.

During the Middle Ages, variations in spelling were common, and the name appeared in forms such as Somerfeld, Somerfelde, and Somerfeild. It is believed that many of these early bearers of the name were landowners or farmers who lived near fields known for their abundant summer harvests.

In the 16th century, the Summerfield name gained prominence with the birth of John Summerfield (c. 1530-1589), a renowned English scholar and theologian who served as the Regius Professor of Divinity at the University of Oxford.

Another notable figure was Sir Richard Summerfield (1615-1683), a prominent English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament and played a key role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause.

During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Summerfield name spread across various regions of England, with concentrations found in counties such as Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Shropshire.

In the 19th century, the name gained international recognition with the life of John Summerfield (1798-1825), an American Methodist minister and celebrated preacher who was born in England but achieved fame in the United States for his powerful oratory and evangelistic efforts.

Another noteworthy individual was Sir George Summerfield (1855-1931), a British industrialist and philanthropist who made significant contributions to the development of the steel industry and founded the Summerfield Trust to support educational and charitable causes.

While the Summerfield name has its roots in the rural landscapes of medieval England, it has evolved to become a widely recognized surname across the English-speaking world, carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Summerfield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Summerfield 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. Staffordshire leads with 255 Summerfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.99x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 255 3.99x
Middlesex 213 1.12x
Bedfordshire 198 20.20x
Warwickshire 142 2.97x
Lancashire 131 0.58x
Surrey 121 1.31x
Cheshire 116 2.78x
Yorkshire 101 0.54x
Northamptonshire 77 4.32x
Lincolnshire 76 2.51x
Derbyshire 71 2.40x
Leicestershire 66 3.14x
Buckinghamshire 40 3.49x
Kent 39 0.60x
Cornwall 36 1.68x
Hertfordshire 26 1.99x
Essex 24 0.64x
Gloucestershire 22 0.59x
Devon 19 0.48x
Cambridgeshire 16 1.33x
Northumberland 16 0.57x
Nottinghamshire 16 0.63x
Sussex 16 0.50x
Worcestershire 16 0.65x
Somerset 15 0.49x
Hampshire 11 0.28x
Aberdeenshire 10 0.57x
Montgomeryshire 10 2.30x
Inverness-shire 8 1.41x
Glamorgan 6 0.18x
Midlothian 6 0.24x
Monmouthshire 6 0.44x
Durham 5 0.09x
Shropshire 5 0.31x
Oxfordshire 3 0.26x
Lanarkshire 2 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 57 Summerfields recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.34x.

Place Total Index
Aston 57 4.34x
Birmingham 55 3.46x
Cardington 42 526.32x
Willenhall 40 33.41x
Wolverhampton 39 7.94x
Walsall Foreign 35 10.60x
Botus Fleming 30 2158.27x
St Pancras London 28 1.84x
Maulden 25 294.12x
Islington London 23 1.25x
Luton 20 11.78x
Southwark St George Martyr 20 5.25x
Castle Donnington 19 109.13x
Sundon 19 778.69x
Warrington 19 7.13x
Wycombe 19 22.27x
St Marylebone London 18 1.78x
Shoreditch London 17 2.07x
Bexley 16 28.02x
Brixworth 16 209.97x
Dunstable 16 53.10x
Mile End Old Town 16 5.35x
Runcorn 16 16.60x
Derby St Werburgh 15 8.76x
Sheffield 15 2.51x
Great Doddington 14 362.69x
Lambeth 14 0.85x
Salford 14 2.12x
West Ham 14 1.70x
Hackney London 13 1.22x
Hampstead London 13 4.41x
Jesmond 13 32.80x
Wilshampstead 13 243.90x
Chelsea London 12 2.10x
St Andrewthe Less 12 8.76x
Surfleet 12 190.78x
Eccleston In Prescot 11 9.75x
Hulme 11 2.35x
Lichfield St Mary 11 59.69x
Nether Hallam 11 4.33x
Aberdeen Old Machar 10 2.73x
Croydon 10 1.95x
Idle 10 11.49x
Litchurch 10 8.38x
Newdigate 10 232.02x
Wootton 10 118.20x
Battersea 9 1.29x
Bermondsey 9 1.60x
Bromley 9 9.14x
Camberwell 9 0.74x
Cheadle 9 29.32x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 2.52x
Coventry St Michael 9 5.87x
Grange 9 1285.71x
Harlaxton 9 362.90x
Huncote 9 301.00x
Liverpool 9 0.66x
Over 9 21.19x
Paddington London 9 1.29x
Pool 9 27.51x
Wednesbury 9 5.63x
Westbury On Trym 9 7.15x
Bilston 8 6.46x
Birkenhead 8 2.40x
Burntwood Edial 8 19.59x
Codnor Park 8 115.11x
Fetcham 8 259.74x
Frodsham 8 49.41x
Great Hale 8 174.29x
Horsham 8 12.90x
Inverness 8 5.62x
Manchester 8 0.79x
Marwood 8 152.67x
Minehead 8 69.50x
Sculcoates 8 2.69x
Spittlegate 8 19.10x
Stafford St Mary 8 8.84x
Grantham 7 17.74x
Poplar London 7 1.96x
Silverdale 7 220.82x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 112
John 98
Thomas 83
George 72
James 69
Charles 46
Joseph 46
Henry 40
Alfred 23
Samuel 22
Arthur 19
Frederick 17
Albert 16
Walter 15
Benjamin 13
David 11
Edward 10
Richard 10
Wm. 10
Frank 9
Herbert 9
Thos. 8
Francis 7
Harry 7
Robert 7
Chas. 6
Daniel 6
Fred 6
Abraham 4
Edwin 4
Ernest 4
Jabez 4
Josiah 4
Stephen 4
Austin 3
Eli 3
Fredrick 3
Henery 3
Job 3
Richd. 3
Tom 3
Caleb 2
Earnest 2
Edgar 2
Joshua 2
Louis 2
Mathew 2
Peter 2
Saml. 2
Timothy 2

FAQ

Summerfield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Summerfield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,940 people were recorded with the Summerfield surname. That placed it at #2,253 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Summerfield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,038 in 2016. That gives Summerfield a modern rank of #2,215.

What does the Summerfield surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone who lived near a field that was used during the summer months.

What does the Summerfield map show?

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