The Sumner surname

In the 2010 U.S. Census, 18,838 people carried this name — #1,909 among all U.S. surnames, about 1 in every 15,600 people counted. That is up 6% from 17,837 in 2000.

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What the name means

The meaning of the Sumner surname

A surname originating as an occupation for a summoner in court.

From Middle English sumner (“summoner”).

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary (en.wiktionary.org) — entry «Sumner» (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 name of office: ‘the summoner’.

An early record he cites: Hugh le Sumenor, Cambridgeshire, 1273 — Hundred Rolls.

His entry covers Sumner and Sumpner.

From Charles W. Bardsley, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames, with Special American Instances (London: Henry Frowde, 1901), p. 728 · public domain.

In the Nordic population registers

39 people named Sumner is counted in Sweden.

Sweden’s figure is from 31 December 2022, the last count Statistics Sweden published.

Counted, by country

Sweden (2022) 39

Own calculations based on data from Statistics Sweden (SCB), surnames with at least two bearers, 31 December 2022 — CC BY 4.0 (names with 20 or more bearers shown).

Among the farmers of England and Wales, 1880s

Sumner was found among the farmers of 2 counties.

It was most frequent in Lancashire: 26 in every 10,000 farmers there — about 1 in 385. Guppy counted the farmers listed in each county’s directory and recorded a name only where it reached about 7 in every 10,000; where it does not appear, it was rarer than that, not absent.

Where it concentrates, on the map

Per 10,000 farmers, by county

Lancashire 26
Cheshire 14

H. B. Guppy, «Homes of Family Names in Great Britain» (London, 1890), alphabetical list of English and Welsh names — public domain · farmers in Kelly’s Post Office Directories of the 1880s, per 10,000 farmers in each county.

In the first U.S. census, 1790

128 families named Sumner, or a close spelling, were counted in 1790.

Each family is counted by its head. About 710 people lived in those households, 5.5 to a family on average. The table counts it together with 2 other spellings. The table lists white heads of families only, in the twelve states whose 1790 records survive; Virginia’s figures come from state lists of 1782–1785.

Families, by state

Massachusetts 54
North Carolina 29
Connecticut 17
Vermont 9
Virginia 8
New Hampshire 6
Maine 2
New York 2
South Carolina 1

U.S. Census Bureau, «A Century of Population Growth from the First Census of the United States to the Twelfth, 1790–1900» (Washington, 1909), table 111, p. 264 — public domain · names carried by at least 100 white persons in 1790.

In print

Sumner in American newspapers,
1862–1911.

Newspaper page from North Branch Democrat carrying the name Sumner
North Branch Democrat 1862-10-29
Newspaper page from The Herald And News carrying the name Sumner
The Herald And News 1911-12-29
Newspaper page from Edgefield Advertiser carrying the name Sumner
Edgefield Advertiser 1895-06-12

Chronicling America, Library of Congress — digitised newspapers in the public domain · 47,012 pages in all carry the name.

In print

Sumner in Australian newspapers,
1820s–2000s.

32,865 articles name a Mr, Mrs or Miss Sumner. The most, 12,522, date from the 1940s. Weighed against how much of each state’s press from the same decades has been digitised, it stands out most in Queensland, at 1.5 times its expected share.

Articles, by state

Queensland 8,884
New South Wales 8,518
Victoria 7,627
South Australia 3,736
Western Australia 2,118
Tasmania 1,320
ACT (Canberra) 530
Northern Territory 60

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

Who carried it

People named Sumner,
with a public archive behind them.

  • John Sumner d. 1649 · actor
  • Alfred Sumner d. 1881 · artist
  • Catherine Sumner d. 1934
  • Catherine Holme d. 1777
  • Patricia Mary Agar-Ellis d. 1981
  • Helen Edith Sumner d. 1885

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

In the public record

People named Sumner,
in the records of 5 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 States1,369 records

1,369 records of the Sumner name in the United States
  • U.S. Army enlistment records, World War II 621
  • U.S. veterans' cemetery records, burials to 2001 271
  • Other U.S. records 477
  1. A United States Selective Service registration card, 1942
    Example: U.S. registration card, 1942
    Military record James E. Sumner

    Born 1899. Enlisted 1942 at Portland, Oregon; painter from Multnomah County. U.S. Army veteran of World War I and World War II; died 1977, buried at Willamette National Cemetery, Oregon.

    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 Buford Ellis Sumner

    Born 1948; from Richmond, Virginia. U.S. Army, aircraft maintenance apprentice; died of wounds 1970 in Quang Ngai, South Vietnam.

    U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain)
  3. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record Eliza Sumner

    Arrived at New York in 1866 aboard the Queen from Liverpool and Queenstown, aged 39; servant. From England.

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

Showing 3 of 1,369 records for Sumner in the United States.

Counts: U.S. National Archives, WWII Army Enlistment Records (public domain) · U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Gravesite Locator (CC0) · NYC Department of Records & Information Services, Historical Vital Records (NYC Open Data) · U.S. National Archives, Flexoline Index Data File (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Castle Garden Immigration Center Collection, Ship Passenger Records (unrestricted) · New York State Department of Health, Genealogical Research Death Index · City of Asheville (public domain, PDDL) · U.S. National Archives, Famine Irish Passenger Records (public domain) · U.S. National Archives, Defense Casualty Analysis System (public domain) · Sacramento County, Historic Burials (CC BY 4.0). 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).

Australia470 records

470 records of the Sumner name in Australia
  • Victoria passenger lists, 1839–1923 206
  • Victoria wills and probate, deaths to 2001 101
  • Other Australian records 163
  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 Robert Sumner

    Transported to Van Diemen's Land aboard the Argyle, sailing from Plymouth in 1831. Native of Wiltshire. Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1841. Married 1841 in Waterloo Point, Tasmania, aged 30.

    Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0)
  2. A marriage entry in the civil register of Tilburg, 1911
    Example: marriage register, 1911
    Marriage record Charlotte Sumner

    Applied for permission to marry in Van Diemen's Land in 1854. Married 1854 in Launceston, Tasmania.

    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 Mary Sumner

    Arrived in Victoria in 1857 aboard the Annie Wilson, aged 40; English.

    Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 470 records for Sumner in Australia.

Counts: Public Record Office Victoria (CC BY 4.0) · Libraries Tasmania, Tasmanian Names Index (CC BY 4.0) · Queensland State Archives (CC BY 4.0) · Museums of History NSW – State Archives Collection (CC BY) · ACT Government, Transport Canberra and City Services (CC BY 4.0) · City of Ballarat, Avenue of Honour Plaques (CC BY 3.0 AU) · State Library of Western Australia (CC BY 4.0) · National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain). 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); Marriage register, Tilburg, 1911, Regionaal Archief Tilburg (public domain); Passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, New York, 1903 (public domain).

Canada84 records

84 records of the Sumner name in Canada
  • Nova Scotia Archives name indexes 23
  • Ontario immigration records, 1865–1883 19
  • Other Canadian records 42
  1. The first page of an emigration file from Gündlingen, Baden, 1883
    Example: German emigration file, 1883
    Emigration record Pinna Sumner

    Left New York in 1783 aboard the Ranger, bound for Port Mattoon, aged 21.

    Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia.
  2. A passenger manifest of the S.S. St. Paul, arriving at New York in 1903
    Example: passenger manifest, 1903
    Passenger record William Sumner

    Came to Ontario in 1870 aboard the Ganges, landing at Quebec, bound for Hamilton, Ontario; English.

    Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario.
  3. Fairview Lawn Cemetery in Halifax, Nova Scotia
    Example: Canadian cemetery
    Burial record Anna Sumner

    Buried in 1985 at Queen's Park Cemetery, Calgary, Alberta, aged 59.

    City of Calgary. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – City of Calgary.

Showing 3 of 84 records for Sumner in Canada.

Counts: Nova Scotia Archives. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence - Nova Scotia. · Archives of Ontario. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Ontario. · City of Vancouver. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Vancouver. · City of Winnipeg. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Winnipeg. · 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. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Emigration file, Gündlingen, 1883, Landesarchiv Baden-Württemberg, Staatsarchiv Freiburg B 694/1 Nr. 1389 (CC BY 4.0); 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).

United Kingdom34 records

34 records of the Sumner name in the United Kingdom
  • War Office casualty lists, 1917–1919, among the dead 26
  • St James's burial ground, Euston (London), 1789–1853 4
  • Other British records 4
  1. A petition to the probate court of St. Louis, 1848
    Example: probate petition, 1848
    Probate record Edwin Sumner

    Will proved in 1941; of Old Colwyn, Denbigh.

    National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0)
  2. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Sumner

    Buried in 1821 at St James's burial ground, Euston, London, aged 59.

    MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
  3. A First World War roll of honour of the staff of C. & E. Morton Ltd
    Example: roll of honour, 1914–1919
    War record E. Sumner

    Lance Corporal, North Staffordshire Regiment. Listed among the dead in the War Office casualty list of 1918.

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

Showing 3 of 34 records for Sumner in the United Kingdom.

Counts: National Library of Scotland, War Office Weekly Casualty Lists (public domain) · MOLA and HS2, St James's burial ground data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. · National Library of Wales, Wills Index Cards (CC0) · National Library of Scotland, Rolls of Honour (public domain) · Stirling Council. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Petition to the probate court, St. Louis, 1848, Missouri Historical Society (public domain); 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 Zealand24 records

24 records of the Sumner name in New Zealand
  • Christchurch City cemetery records 23
  • Marlborough District cemetery records 1
  1. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Mary Ann Sumner

    Died 1881, aged 19; buried at Addington Cemetery, 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 John Ellis Sumner

    Died 1900, aged 30; buried at Omaka Cemetery, Marlborough.

    Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0)
  3. A page of the burial register of Newtown, Wales, 1858
    Example: burial register, 1858
    Burial record Dorothy Wanda Sumner

    Died 1966, aged 40; buried at Memorial Park Cemetery, Christchurch, Canterbury.

    Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0)

Showing 3 of 24 records for Sumner in New Zealand.

Counts: Christchurch City Council (CC BY 4.0) · Marlborough District Council (CC BY 4.0). Example pages, not the records of the people shown: Burial register of Newtown, Montgomeryshire, 1858, National Library of Wales (CC0).

Nearby in the index

Surnames next to Sumner.

When the index is not enough

This page says where Sumner 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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