Surname Sommer - Meaning and Origin

Unraveling Ancestral Threads: A Deep Dive into the Sommer Surname via iGENEA DNA Test

Every family has a story. Some stories are told, while others are written in our DNA, waiting to be uncovered. Decided to unearth this genetic tale, I embarked on an exploration with iGENEA DNA test, focusing on the history and origin of my family's surname, Sommer.

M. Sommer

Sommer: What does the surname Sommer mean?

The surname Sommer is of German origin and it translates to "summer" in English. This name could have been a nickname for a cheerful or warm person, or someone born or baptized in summer. It could also have been an occupational name for a person who owed feudal service in the summer, typically the lighter duties of mowing and harvesting. Since surnames were often derived from a person's occupation, geographical location, or personal characteristics during the Middle Ages, "Sommer" could possibly relate to any of these factors. In some cases, the name could have also come from the medieval personal name "Sommer", which was bestowed on a child born in the summertime.

Sommer: Where does the name Sommer come from?

The last name Sommer is most commonly found in Germany, where it is one of the top 150 surnames. It is also found in the United States, where the latest census from 2020 indicates it was the 6,547th most common last name. It is also widespread across Europe, especially throughout Austria, Switzerland and Denmark, and is increasingly seen in France due to migration from German-speaking countries in the 19th century. It is also found in countries in South America and Central America that were colonized by Spain or Portugal, likely due to the fact that German immigrants journeyed to those regions in the 18th and 19th centuries. The last name Sommer can easily be found in other countries of Europe, as well as Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

It is particularly common in Germanic countries due to its many variants including Summer, Sumner, Sommerweis, and Sommerschield. It is believed that the variant forms of the last name Sommer are derived from the Middle High German word “sumar”, meaning summer season. This suggests that the name originated from individuals who worked in some capacity related to the summer season, such as farmers or shepherds. The Sommer surname is also believed to have derived from the Scandinavian word “summer”, which refers to a high body of water or a lake, thus potentially indicating an ancestral aquatic or river-related profession.

In its many forms, the last name Sommer is still found around the world today. It is a common surname in many countries, particularly among those with German heritage.

Variations of the surname Sommer

The surname Sommer is an occupational surname of German origin. It literally translates to “summer” in English, likely as a descriptor for a person who worked seasonally or perhaps was particularly associated with the summer months. The spelling of this surname is very versatile and similar-sounding names exist in many countries.

In Germany, Sommers is a variation of Sommer, as is the Dutch Somer, and the Swedish Somers. In Austria, the form is Sommar, while in Finland it is Somerinen. In France, it is converted into the form Sommier, and in Hungary it is Sumar. In Spain, the surname is Somarriva or Somarriba.

In the United States, the surname is often spelled Summer, Summers, Sommers, Sommerset, and Sommerville. Other spellings include Sammour, Sampson, Samantha, and Samar. There are also Anglicised forms of the name such as Souther, Somervill, and Sommersett.

In addition, there are many more variants of the surname Sommer, including Summar, Sommereux, Sommerfelt, Somerfield, Soemers, Soemmerling, Sommerdyke, Sommerlad, Summerhayes, Sommerer, Sommerland, and Summerman.

Famous people with the name Sommer

• Elle Sommer: A professional dancer, singer, actress, and spokesperson.
• Marco Sommer: An internationally recognized photographer, and social entrepreneur.
• Jennifer Sommer: A German figure skater and Olympic gold medalist.
• Tim Sommer: An American music producer, songwriter and journalist.
• Torben Sommer: A Danish journalist, editor and non-fiction author.
• Morten Sommer: A Danish game designer and interdisciplinary researcher.
• Robert Sommer: An American educational psychologist and emeritus professor.
• Gioia Sommer: A German actress and singer.
• Hans Sommer: A Swiss Federal Supreme Court judge.
• Mariella Sommer: A Swiss journalist, presenter and author.
• Erwin Sommer: A 20th-century Austrian biochemist.
• Kurt Sommer: An American musician, songwriter and record producer.
• Jürgen Sommer: A German football manager.
• Tilo Sommer: A German writer and novelist.
• Jule Sommer: A German actress and musician.
• Jean Sommer: A 19th-century French military theorist and historian.
• Guido Sommer: An Austrian actor, producer and director.
• Peter Sommer: A Danish historian, professor and author.
• Elly Sommer: A German entrepreneur, expert in health management and economics.
• Gunther Sommer: A German-Israeli historian and professor emeritus.

Other surnames

SommerbauerSommerfeldSommerfeldtSommerhalderSommerhalterSommerkampSommerkornSommerladSommerladeSommerlatSommerlathSommerlattSommerlatteSommerlotSommermayerSommermeierSommermeyerSommerrockSommersSommerschuhSommervilleSommerweisSommerweissSommerweißSommerwerck