NameCensus.

UK surname

Summerville

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "summer town" or "summer settlement."

In the 1881 census there were 183 people recorded with the Summerville surname, ranking it #13,596 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 157, ranked #23,006, down from #13,596 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ11, Sunderland and Salford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Summerville is 195 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 14.2%.

1881 census count

183

Ranked #13,596

Modern count

157

2016, ranked #23,006

Peak year

1901

195 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Summerville had 183 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #13,596 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016, ranked #23,006.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 195 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Summerville surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Summerville surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Summerville 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 85 #18,940
1861 historical 100 #21,103
1881 historical 183 #13,596
1891 historical 129 #20,285
1901 historical 195 #15,380
1911 historical 119 #20,535
1997 modern 164 #19,944
1998 modern 169 #20,104
1999 modern 160 #20,943
2000 modern 162 #20,735
2001 modern 157 #20,884
2002 modern 151 #21,809
2003 modern 147 #21,977
2004 modern 146 #22,202
2005 modern 140 #22,774
2006 modern 136 #23,378
2007 modern 141 #23,137
2008 modern 139 #23,635
2009 modern 150 #22,937
2010 modern 151 #23,377
2011 modern 150 #23,309
2012 modern 155 #22,762
2013 modern 144 #24,323
2014 modern 150 #23,864
2015 modern 155 #23,194
2016 modern 157 #23,006

Geography

Back to top

Where Summervilles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, London parishes, Gateshead, Earsdon and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ11, Sunderland, Salford, Vale of White Horse and Lambeth. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 London parishes London 3
3 Gateshead Durham
4 Earsdon Northumberland
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ11 East Lothian
2 Sunderland 021 Sunderland
3 Salford 009 Salford
4 Vale of White Horse 003 Vale of White Horse
5 Lambeth 030 Lambeth

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Summerville

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Summerville

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Summerville is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Summerville 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

Summerville falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Summerville

The surname Summerville originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from the Old English words "sumor" and "feld," which together mean "summer field." This name likely referred to a person who lived near or owned a field or meadow that was particularly lush and green during the summer months.

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1208, where a man named Robert de Summerfeld is mentioned. The spelling "Summerville" itself appears to have emerged in the 15th century, as evidenced by a record from 1467 mentioning a John Summerville of Lancashire.

The Summerville name has deep roots in the northern counties of England, particularly Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Westmorland. Several notable individuals bearing this surname hailed from these regions, including Sir Walter Summerville (1570-1641), a prominent landowner and Member of Parliament for Westmorland.

In the 16th century, the Summerville family established themselves as lords of the manor in the village of Eccleston, Lancashire. One of their descendants, Edward Summerville (1620-1693), was a renowned mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the development of calculus.

Another notable figure was John Summerville (1780-1856), a respected botanist and horticulturist from Yorkshire, who authored several influential works on gardening and the cultivation of plants.

While the Summerville name is primarily associated with England, it has also been found in Scotland and Ireland, likely due to migration patterns over the centuries. One notable Scottish bearer of this surname was James Summerville (1823-1901), a renowned architect responsible for designing several iconic buildings in Glasgow.

Throughout its history, the Summerville surname has been subject to various spellings, including Somerfield, Somerfeld, and Somervill, reflecting the evolving nature of English orthography over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Summerville families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Summerville 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 35 Summervilles recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.65x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 35 1.65x
Lanarkshire 30 5.20x
Northumberland 24 9.04x
Middlesex 16 0.90x
Durham 14 2.64x
Midlothian 8 3.35x
Aberdeenshire 7 4.23x
Hampshire 7 1.91x
Yorkshire 7 0.40x
Kent 6 0.99x
Surrey 6 0.69x
Glamorgan 4 1.29x
Gloucestershire 4 1.14x
Devon 3 0.81x
Cheshire 2 0.51x
Cumberland 2 1.30x
Angus 1 0.60x
Dumfriesshire 1 2.54x
Dunbartonshire 1 2.08x
Northamptonshire 1 0.60x
Pembrokeshire 1 1.76x
Somerset 1 0.35x
Sussex 1 0.33x
Warwickshire 1 0.22x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barton Upon Irwell in Lancashire leads with 10 Summervilles recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.74x.

Place Total Index
Barton Upon Irwell 10 62.74x
Bothwell 10 63.86x
Everton 8 11.85x
Tweedmouth 8 241.69x
Christchurch 7 88.27x
Swinton In Rotherham 7 149.57x
Toxteth Park 7 9.76x
Croydon 6 12.43x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 6 106.01x
Stonehouse 6 306.12x
Gateshead 5 12.58x
Tough 5 1190.48x
Willesden 5 29.71x
Barony 4 2.74x
Govan 4 2.80x
Mile End Old Town 4 14.19x
Swansea St Thomas 4 128.21x
East Matfen 3 3333.33x
Elswick 3 14.15x
Glasgow 3 2.93x
Heworth 3 28.68x
Newcastle On Tyne St 3 21.79x
Penshaw 3 187.50x
Westgate 3 18.24x
Bishopwearmouth 2 4.39x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 6.07x
Cambusnethan 2 15.60x
Charlton 2 49.51x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 2 2.08x
Ilfracombe 2 52.36x
Oldham 2 2.93x
Plumstead 2 9.85x
St George Hanover 2 8.58x
West Derby 2 3.23x
Alford 1 111.11x
Birmingham 1 0.67x
Bridekirk 1 81.30x
Bridgewater 1 12.82x
Bristol St Paul In 1 10.72x
Bromley London 1 2.55x
Broughton In Salford 1 5.16x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 2.97x
Exminster 1 74.63x
Fulwood 1 43.67x
Hammersmith London 1 2.27x
Hartlepool 1 13.25x
Heugh 1 526.32x
Horfield 1 28.41x
Hove 1 7.58x
Kirkintilloch 1 15.34x
Lancaster 1 7.94x
Leochel Cushnie 1 135.14x
Lochee 1 68.03x
Margate St John Baptist 1 8.97x
Moffat 1 55.56x
New Monkland 1 5.86x
Northenden 1 138.89x
Over Alderley 1 416.67x
Paddington London 1 1.52x
Penally 1 270.27x
Pendleton In Salford 1 3.96x
Salford 1 1.61x
South Blyth Newsham 1 192.31x
St Gilesin Fields 1 96.15x
St Luke London 1 3.49x
Stanwix 1 80.65x
Towcester 1 57.80x
Tynemouth 1 7.03x
Wallsend 1 11.88x
Woolwich 1 4.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 11
Jane 4
Margaret 4
Ann 3
Annie 3
Elizabeth 3
Agness 2
Edith 2
Eliza 2
Isabella 2
Lydia 2
Margt. 2
Sarah 2
Abigail 1
Alice 1
Betty 1
Catherine 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Ethel 1
Ettie 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
H. 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Jenet 1
Julia 1
Katie 1
Laura 1
Maggie 1
Margret 1
Nipporah 1
Ruth 1
Sophia 1
Susan 1
Susanna 1
Theresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 10
William 7
George 6
James 5
Alexander 4
Joseph 4
Robert 4
Thomas 4
Peter 3
Charles 2
David 2
Robt. 2
Adam 1
Bertie 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Harrison 1
Harry 1
Henry 1
R. 1
Rowland 1
Sam 1
Wm. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Summerville surname: questions and answers

How common was the Summerville surname in 1881?

In 1881, 183 people were recorded with the Summerville surname. That placed it at #13,596 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Summerville surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 157 in 2016. That gives Summerville a modern rank of #23,006.

What does the Summerville surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "summer town" or "summer settlement."

What does the Summerville map show?

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