The Somerville surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 6,721 people carried this name — #5,199 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 43,900 people counted. That is up 5% from 6,419 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Somerville surname

Perhaps from Somer + -ville.

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Somerville» (English), by Wiktionary contributors · licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 (creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0) · excerpt, lightly adapted.

As an English and Welsh surname

Bardsley classes it as a local name, from where the family lived: ‘de Somerville’.

An early record he cites: Jacobus de Somerwill, Devon, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Somerville, Sommerville, Somervail, Somervell and Somerwill.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 702 · public domain.

In Ireland’s birth registers, 1890

Ireland registered 24 births for the Somerville name in 1890.

They were registered in all four provinces, most of all in Ulster. By the Registrar-General’s own method — births multiplied by 44.38 — that is about 1,100 people bearing the name in Ireland at the time.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they were born, 1890

Ulster 17
Leinster 4
Connacht 2
Munster 1

Registrar-General for Ireland, «Special Report on Surnames in Ireland» (R. E. Matheson, 1894), births index of 1890 — public domain.

In Argentina’s national register

At least 53 people named Somerville live in Argentina.

RENAPER only publishes a name in a province when more than ten people there share it, so the real number is higher. Most of them live in San Juan.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

San Juan 30
La Rioja 13
Buenos Aires Province 10

RENAPER (National Registry of Persons, Argentina), surnames of residents by province, December 2021 — CC BY 4.0.

In Switzerland’s population statistics

21 people named Somerville live in Switzerland.

They live in 5 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, most of all in Zurich.

Too few records to say where it concentrates region by region — these are plain counts, not shares.

Where they live today

Zurich 7
Aargau 4
Vaud 4
Graubünden 3
St. Gallen 3

Swiss Federal Statistical Office (FSO), «Surnames of the permanent resident population by canton», 2025, opendata.swiss/en/dataset/nachnamen-der-standigen-wohnbevolkerung-nach-kanton3 · names with fewer than 3 bearers in a canton are not published.

In Scotland, 1880s

Somerville was 20 in every 10,000 names in Scotland.

That is about 1 in 500. Its home there, in Guppy’s words: “Fairly dispersed, but especially characteristic of Lanarkshire.” He counted the more than 20,000 names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, taking Scotland as a whole, and listed only the names that reached 10 in every 10,000.

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), appendix: alphabetical list of the most frequent Scottish names, p. 594 — public domain · names in Halliburton’s County Directory of Scotland, per 10,000 for the whole country.

In Scotland’s registers today

Somerville was recorded 60 times in Scotland’s registers of births, marriages and deaths in 2025.

That made it the 439th most common name in those registers, shared with others on the same count. In 1975, the first year of the series, the count was 85. Each birth counts the child’s surname, each marriage both partners’ and each death the surname of the person who died — a yearly count of registrations, not of the people who live in Scotland.

National Records of Scotland, «Most Common Surnames, 2025» (published 26 May 2026): every surname recorded 10 or more times in the 2025 registers, and the series from 1975 · different spellings are counted separately — © Crown copyright 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

In print

Somerville in American newspapers,
1826–1913.

Newspaper page from The Birmingham Age-herald carrying the name Somerville
The Birmingham Age-herald 1913-06-29
Newspaper page from The Aegis & Intelligencer carrying the name Somerville
The Aegis & Intelligencer 1869-07-16
Newspaper page from The Wilmingtonian, And Delaware Advertiser carrying the name Somerville
The Wilmingtonian, And Delaware Advertiser 1826-04-06

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 2,193 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Somerville in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2010s.

38,749 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Somerville. The most, 8,290, date from the 1930s. New South Wales has the most articles, but weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, the name stands out most in Western Australia, at 2.1 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

New South Wales 16,018
Western Australia 7,040
Victoria 6,892
Queensland 3,515
South Australia 3,051
Tasmania 1,722
ACT (Canberra) 385
Northern Territory 45

Trove, National Library of Australia (trove.nla.gov.au) · articles in its digitised newspapers that name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Somerville.

Who carried it

People named Somerville,
with a public archive behind them.

  • Robert Somerville d. 1803 · agronomist
  • Marcus Somerville d. 1831 · politician
  • Thomas Somerville d. 1718
  • James Somerville d. 1642
  • Martha Matilda Somerville d. 1826
  • Marcus Edward Francis Meredyth Somerville d. 1871

Wikidata (CC0) · 10 lives in all are documented under this name.

In the public record

People named Somerville,
in the records of 7 countries.

Soldiers, farmers, migrants and neighbours who carried the name and left a trace in public archives. Everyone shown here died long ago or was born more than a century ago.

United States1,001 records

1,001 records of the Somerville name in the United States
  • New York City birth, marriage and death certificates 244
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 220
  • Other U.S. records 537
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record Elmer E. Somerville

    Born 1917 in Maryland. Enlisted 1941 at Baltimore; construction worker. U.S. Army veteran of World War II; died 1989, buried at Garrison Forest Veterans Cemetery, Owings Mills, Maryland.

    U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  2. Names engraved on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington, D.C.
    Example: U.S. war memorial
    War record Donald William Somerville

    Born 1931; from San Diego, California. U.S. Marine Corps; killed in action 1952 in Korea. Buried at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, California.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain); U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Bridget Somerville

    Arrived at New York in 1892 aboard the Britannic from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 21; servant. From Liverpool, Ireland; bound for New York.

    U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted)

Showing 3 of 1,001 records for Somerville in the United States.

Counts: NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. Selective Service registration card, 1942 (public domain); Vietnam Veterans Memorial, photo by U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael J. Carden, 2009 (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Australia952 records

952 records of the Somerville name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 458
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 171
  • Other Australian records 323
  1. An 1829 etching of convicts being rowed out to the prison ship York in Portsmouth Harbour
    Pictured: convicts going on board a prison ship, 1829
    Transportation record Margaret Somerville

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Woodbridge, sailing from London in 1843. Native of Edinburgh, Midlothian. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1847.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Samuel Somerville

    Died 1892 in Launceston, Tasmania, aged 29. Will registered in Tasmania in 1892.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record John Somerville

    Arrived in Victoria in 1855 aboard the Star of the East, aged 30; Irish.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 952 records for Somerville in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Prison-ship in Portsmouth Harbour, with the convicts going on board, etching by Edward William Cooke, 1829, Royal Museums Greenwich (public domain); Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada161 records

161 records of the Somerville name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 41
  • Mountain View Cemetery, Vancouver 41
  • Other Canadian records 79
  1. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record C.w Somerville

    Came to Ontario in 1879 aboard the Moravian, landing at Quebec, bound for Bracebridge, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  2. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Dorothy Lillian Somerville

    Buried in 1988 at Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 70.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.
  3. A page of the Berlin civil register, 1880
    Example: civil register, 1880
    Death record Alberta Somerville

    Died 1964 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.

Showing 3 of 161 records for Somerville in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · Veterans Affairs Canada. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Canada. · City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary. · City of Niagara Falls. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Niagara Falls. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain); Fairview Lawn Cemetery, Halifax, photo by Edgar El (CC BY 3.0); Civil register, Berlin, 1880, Landesarchiv Berlin (CC0).

United Kingdom108 records

108 records of the Somerville name in the United Kingdom
  • Stirling Council burial records 78
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 18
  • Scottish rolls of honour, First World War 12
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record William Somerville

    Buried in 1936 at Ballengeich Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland, aged 23.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  2. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record John Somerville

    Died 1918. Named in the roll of honour for the burgh and parish of Auchterarder (1920).

    National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Lily Somerville

    Died 1970, aged 78; buried at Logie Cemetery, Stirling, Scotland.

    Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Showing 3 of 108 records for Somerville in the United Kingdom.

Counts: Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); C. & E. Morton Ltd roll of honour, 1914–1919, photo by Adrian S Pye via Geograph (CC BY-SA 2.0).

New Zealand25 records

25 records of the Somerville name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 20
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 3
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 2
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Brian Arthur Somerville

    Died 1995, aged 60; buried at Ruru Lawn, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record James John Somerville

    Died 1948, aged 81; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the Livre d’or of the French war dead, Paris
    Example: roll of the war dead
    War record R. Somerville

    New Zealand Infantry. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1917.

    National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain)

Showing 3 of 25 records for Somerville in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0); Livre d’or of the war dead, Paris, Ministère des pensions, Archives nationales (CC0).

Norway12 records

12 records of the Somerville name in Norway Norway's 1910 census
  1. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Anna Maitland Somerville

    Census of 1910: Erling Skjalgsønsgate, Kristiania; born 1898 in Kristiania.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  2. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record David Maitland Makgitt Somerville

    Census of 1910: Bogstadveien, Kristiania; born 1850 in Ireland.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)
  3. A page of the 1910 United States census, Milwaukee
    Example: U.S. census, 1910
    Census record Esther Maitland Somerville

    Census of 1910: Bogstadveien, Kristiania; born 1903 in Kristiania.

    Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO)

Showing 3 of 12 records for Somerville in Norway.

Counts: Arkivverket, Digitalarkivet, 1910 census (CC BY 3.0 NO). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: U.S. census of 1910, Milwaukee (public domain).

France7 records

7 records of the Somerville name in France France's national death register, 1970–2001
  1. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Edouard Henri Georges Somerville

    Born 1929 in Morlaix (Finistère); died 1995 in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  2. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Louise Andree Leonie Somerville

    Born 1901 in Cherbourg-Octeville; died 1987 in Brillevast (Manche).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)
  3. A page of the death register of Nice, 1930
    Example: French death register, 1930
    Death record Alfred Somerville

    Born 1899 in Trémel; died 1975 in Trémel (Côtes-d'Armor).

    Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte)

Showing 3 of 7 records for Somerville in France.

Counts: Insee, Fichier des personnes décédées (Licence Ouverte). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Death register of Nice, 1930, Archives départementales des Alpes-Maritimes (public domain).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Somerville.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Somerville is.
A volume says what happened to it.

Every page in the index is free and stays free. The Heritage Volume is the long form: the full paper trail, the arms, the crossing — bound, and yours.

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