Recorded in many forms including Somer, Sommer, and the plural Sommers, this interesting surname is of both Olde English and Germanic origins. It has two distinct possible sources. The first being a form of the pre 7th century personal byname "Somer", meaning summer, and originally given as a baptismal name of endearment to a child, or it was a medieval nickname for a person of a sunny disposition. The second possible derivation is from the word "sumpter", itself from the Old French word "somier", meaning a driver of a pack animal.
The surname derived from this source is therefore occupational for a transport contractor. Job-descriptive surnames originally denoted the actual occupation of the namebearer, and later became hereditary. Early examples of the surname include: Adam Sumer of the county of Essex, England in the year 1203, William Somer of Worcestershire in 1327, and in Germany Thiderik Somer of Greifswald in 1329. Other recordings include Christoph Sommerer of Brixen, Germany, on May 1st 1533, and John Sommers and Ursula Harvey who were married at Northwood, Hampshire, on April 30th 1583. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
The history of the surname sommer is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of sommer.
It is common for surnames like sommer to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones.
The historical journey of the surname sommer can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of sommer.
You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname sommer, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames.
Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all sommers who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname sommer who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname sommer.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of sommer, and at the same time, of surnames in general.