Surname Sumners - Meaning and Origin

Sumners: What does the surname Sumners mean?

The surname Sumners originates from the medieval English job title "Summoner" or "Sumner". The role of a Summoner was to summon people to appear before the ecclesiastical and secular courts, a role similar to a modern day process server. They had a reputation for corruption which may have given the name a negative connotation in history. Despite this, Sumner, Sumners or Summoner are quite common surnames in various permutations around the world. The name has no definitive geographical link, although it is more frequently found in English-speaking countries. In some cases, Sumners could also possibly be a variant of the surname Summers, but this is less likely. Etymologically, the name is derived from the Old English word 'sumnere', meaning 'summoner'.

Sumners: Where does the name Sumners come from?

The last name Sumners is most common in English-speaking countries such as the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. It is also found in many other countries, including Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand.

In the United Kingdom, the most common region for Sumners is the West Midlands region, where it is the 230th most common surname with an estimated 8,077 bearers of the surname. It is also found in other counties such as Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Hertfordshire.

In the United States, Sumners is a relatively rare surname. According to the US Census Bureau, there were fewer than 2,000 bearers of the name across the country in 2020. It is most common in Texas where it is the 4,735th most common surname with an estimated 730 bearers. It is also found in other states such as North Carolina, Georgia, and Washington.

In Canada, Sumners is most commonly found in Ontario where it is the 4,272nd most common surname based on a 2019 estimate of 265 bearers. It is also found in other provinces such as British Columbia, Quebec, and Alberta.

Overall, Sumners is a relatively rare but widespread surname with bearers found in many different countries across the world.

Variations of the surname Sumners

The surname Sumners has many possible variants, spellings, and associated surnames of the same origin, which are all derived from the original Anglo-Saxon family name Suman, sometimes spelt Sumner.

Some of the spelling variants that have been found for the surname Sumners and other Suman-based surnames include Sumner, Sumnar, Summser, Sumnerr, Sumnerss, Sumnors, Sumors, Sumarse, Sumnass, and Summers.

The associated surnames of Sumners include Somes, Sommer, Summerfield, Summerell, Summerill, Summerskill, Sumney, Sumore, Sumorst, and Sumster. These are all derived from the same Anglo-Saxon roots as Sumners and are surnames that can sometimes appear interchangeable with it.

The surnames Sumner and Sumners are both so common, however, that it can be difficult to track which variant or associated surname might have been used by a particular branch of the family. It has been theorized by some genealogists that a particular Sumner family may have used different variants of the surname at different points in their history, so multiple variants and associated surnames should be kept in mind if researching a particular Sumner family.

Famous people with the name Sumners

• Steve Sumner: Retired New Zealand footballer who played for the New Zealand national team during the 1980s. He was the nation's first-ever FIFA World Player of the Year in 1980.
• Dawn Sumner: American geobiology and geochemistry professor, known for her research in the field of astrobiology and the first scientific member of the Mars rover team.
• Becky Sumner: American television actress best known for her role as Mary Elizibeth Stephens on the beloved teen drama Dawson's Creek.
• Joe Sumner: English musician, lead singer of the post-punk band Fiction Plane, son of British singer and songwriter Sting.
• Peter Sumner: Australian actor and director. He was best known for his role as Corporal Peter again in the film Gallipoli and his roles in the television series The Sullivans, The Flying Doctors, The Damnation of Harvey McHugh, and The Adventures of Lano & Woodley.
• Michael Sumner: American wrestler who competed at the 2000 Summer Olympics. He won a bronze medal in the Greco-Roman 125 kg event.
• Gordon Sumner (better known as Sting): Best known as the lead singer of the band The Police, he is a multi-award-winning English musician, singer, songwriter, and actor.
• David Martin Sumner (better known as Dave Sumner): American jazz and electronic music critic, founder of the music website Down Beat and former editor of The Penguin Guide to Jazz.
• Heather Sumner: American actress who achieved success in films in the early to mid-1960s.
• Stephen Sumner: New Zealand cricketer who played for the Otago cricket team from 1960 to 1968. He was also a member of the New Zealand disability cricket teams that played in the 2003 and 2007 series.

Other surnames

Sumner