UK surname
An English surname referring to one who lived near summer pastures or hayfields.
In the 1881 census there were 94 people recorded with the Summerhays surname, ranking it #20,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6, ranked #38,110, down from #20,467 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Langport, Drayton with Middleney, Curry Rivell, Swell, Aller, Misterton and Stockland. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Summerhays is 124 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 93.6%.
1881 census count
94
Ranked #20,467
Modern count
6
2016, ranked #38,110
Peak year
1851
124 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Summerhays surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Summerhays surname density by area, 1861 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 | 124 | #14,792 |
| 1861 | historical | 114 | #19,011 |
| 1881 | historical | 94 | #20,467 |
| 1891 | historical | 76 | #27,290 |
| 1901 | historical | 51 | #28,492 |
| 1911 | historical | 27 | #30,437 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1999 | modern | 8 | #37,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 6 | #37,624 |
| 2001 | modern | 7 | #37,293 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 8 | #37,248 |
| 2004 | modern | 5 | #37,830 |
| 2005 | modern | 5 | #37,885 |
| 2006 | modern | 5 | #37,956 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 7 | #37,816 |
| 2010 | modern | 6 | #38,024 |
| 2011 | modern | 6 | #38,016 |
| 2012 | modern | 8 | #37,740 |
| 2013 | modern | 9 | #37,653 |
| 2014 | modern | 9 | #37,679 |
| 2015 | modern | 6 | #38,076 |
| 2016 | modern | 6 | #38,110 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Langport, Drayton with Middleney, Curry Rivell, Swell, Aller, Misterton, Stockland, Wimbledon and Pitminster. 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 | Langport, Drayton with Middleney, Curry Rivell, Swell, Aller | Somerset |
| 2 | Misterton | Dorset |
| 3 | Stockland | Devon |
| 4 | Wimbledon | Surrey |
| 5 | Pitminster | Somerset |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Summerhays 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 Summerhays, 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 Summerhays surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Summerhays 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, Summerhays 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 Summerhays is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Summerhays, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Summerhays is of English origin, traced back to the early 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "sumor" meaning summer and "hæg" meaning meadow or enclosure, indicating that the name likely referred to a summer pasture or meadowland.
One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1327, where it appears as "Somerhaye." This suggests that the surname was initially associated with the county of Gloucestershire in the West Country of England.
Over time, the name underwent various spelling variations, including Somerhaye, Somerhayes, Summerhay, and eventually settling on the modern form of Summerhays. These alterations were common during the medieval period due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions.
In the 16th century, the surname Summerhays appeared in the Visitation of Somerset, a record of the gentry families of the county. This document listed a William Summerhays, born in 1520, as a landowner in the parish of Curry Rivell.
Another notable individual with this surname was John Summerhays, a wealthy merchant and benefactor who lived in Gloucestershire during the late 16th and early 17th centuries. He was a major contributor to the restoration of the Church of St. Michael in Gloucester, where his coat of arms can still be seen today.
During the English Civil War, a Captain William Summerhays fought for the Royalist cause under Prince Rupert of the Rhine. He was recorded as being present at the Battle of Edgehill in 1642.
In the 18th century, the surname Summerhays gained some prominence in the county of Somerset. A family of that name owned the estate of Somerhays (later known as Somerhayes) in the parish of Pitcombe, which they held from the late 17th century until the early 19th century.
Another notable figure was Sir Walter Summerhays (1773-1855), an English banker and Member of Parliament for Tewkesbury from 1818 to 1832. He was also a Deputy Lieutenant of Gloucestershire and a Justice of the Peace.
While the surname Summerhays is relatively uncommon today, it has a rich historical lineage that can be traced back to its English origins and the rural landscapes of the West Country.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Summerhays 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. Somerset leads with 50 Summerhays' recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.88x.
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pitminster in Somerset leads with 12 Summerhays' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2790.70x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Pitminster | 12 | 2790.70x |
| Curry Mallet | 8 | 5333.33x |
| Durston | 8 | 11428.57x |
| Hackney London | 6 | 11.67x |
| Roath | 6 | 82.76x |
| Taunton St Mary | 6 | 221.40x |
| Bedminster | 4 | 28.84x |
| Bristol St Philip Jacob | 4 | 23.63x |
| Kilve | 4 | 5714.29x |
| Wellington | 4 | 200.00x |
| Broadwood Kelly | 3 | 3333.33x |
| Hitchin | 3 | 105.26x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 3.75x |
| Portsea | 3 | 8.15x |
| Taunton St James | 3 | 139.53x |
| Upottery | 3 | 1304.35x |
| Bristol St Mary Redcliff | 2 | 121.95x |
| Islington London | 2 | 2.25x |
| St George Hanover | 2 | 16.71x |
| Bishops Tawton | 1 | 166.67x |
| Bristol St James St Paul | 1 | 16.67x |
| Creech St Michael | 1 | 270.27x |
| Godalming | 1 | 35.59x |
| Great Yarmouth | 1 | 8.56x |
| Lee | 1 | 22.03x |
| Sandhurst | 1 | 75.19x |
| Wimbledon | 1 | 19.92x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Summerhays 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 Summerhays 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 Summerhays households.
FAQ
In 1881, 94 people were recorded with the Summerhays surname. That placed it at #20,467 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 6 in 2016. That gives Summerhays a modern rank of #38,110.
An English surname referring to one who lived near summer pastures or hayfields.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Summerhays 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.